Background/aims: Most Australian adolescents do not meet the recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake and derive a higher percentage of their daily energy intake from discretionary food and drink than Australians in other age groups. Food retail settings frequently accessed by adolescents are saturated with energy-dense, nutrient-poor food and drinks that are heavily marketed at point-of-sale. This study examines associations between food purchasing practices in various retail settings and dietary intake among Australian adolescents.
Methods: National cross-sectional surveys of secondary school students in years 8 to 11 (ages 12 to 17 years) were conducted in 2009-10 (n=13,790), 2012-13 (n=10,309) and 2018 (n=9,102), and were pooled for analysis. The surveys measured self-reported food purchasing practices in different settings and consumption of various discretionary foods, sugary drinks, fruits and vegetables.
Results: Relative to students who usually brought their lunch from home, those who purchased lunch from the school canteen or from nearby take-away outlets each reported significantly higher intake of discretionary food and sugary drinks and lower fruit and vegetable intake (all p<0.05). Leaving school grounds to buy food/drink, buying food/drink on the school commute, buying food/drink displayed at the supermarket checkout and ordering fast food using a mobile phone app were each associated with higher discretionary food and sugary drink intake (all p<0.001). Checkout purchases were also associated with lower vegetable intake (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Food purchasing practices in retail settings such as school canteens, shops near schools and on the school commute, supermarket checkouts and food delivery apps are associated with higher intake of discretionary food and drink among Australian adolescents. Some purchasing practices appeared to displace fruit and vegetable intake. These findings highlight a need to improve the accessibility and promotion of healthier options in school and other retail settings.