Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28587691›Full record

SynthesisPublic health nutrition2017

Exploring the influence of local food environments on food behaviours: a systematic review of qualitative literature.

Erin Pitt, Danielle Gallegos, Tracy Comans, Cate Cameron, Lukar Thornton

Abstract readComparative StudySystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Public health nutrition, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 96 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
96citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

96 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  4. How does the food environment influence people engaged in weight management? A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the qualitative literature.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2022
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  7. Factors influencing obesogenic behaviours of adolescent girls and women in low- and middle-income countries: A qualitative evidence synthesis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2021
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  20. From Supermarkets to Farms: Food Policy and the Obesity Epidemic.Journal of general internal medicine · 2025
    Review

36 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Erin Pitt1School of Medicine and Menzies Health Institute Queensland,Griffith University,Nathan Campus,Nathan,QLD 4111,Australia.
Danielle Gallegos2School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences,Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane,Australia.
Tracy Comans1School of Medicine and Menzies Health Institute Queensland,Griffith University,Nathan Campus,Nathan,QLD 4111,Australia.
Cate Cameron3Recover Injury Research Institute and Menzies Health Institute Queensland,Griffith University,Brisbane,Australia.
Lukar Thornton4Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition,School of Exercise and Nutrition Science,Deakin University,Melbourne,Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveSystematic reviews investigating associations between objective measures of the food environment and dietary behaviours or health outcomes have not established a consistent evidence base. The present paper aims to synthesise qualitative evidence regarding the influence of local food environments on food and purchasing behaviours.

designA systematic review in the form of a qualitative thematic synthesis.

settingUrban localities. SUBJECTS: Adults.

resultsFour analytic themes were identified from the review including community and consumer nutrition environments, other environmental factors and individual coping strategies for shopping and purchasing decisions. Availability, accessibility and affordability were consistently identified as key determinants of store choice and purchasing behaviours that often result in less healthy food choices within community nutrition environments. Food availability, quality and food store characteristics within consumer nutrition environments also greatly influenced in-store purchases. Individuals used a range of coping strategies in both the community and consumer nutrition environments to make optimal purchasing decisions, often within the context of financial constraints.

conclusionsFindings from the current review add depth and scope to quantitative literature and can guide ongoing theory, interventions and policy development in food environment research. There is a need to investigate contextual influences within food environments as well as individual and household socio-economic characteristics that contribute to the differing use of and views towards local food environments. Greater emphasis on how individual and environmental factors interact in the food environment field will be key to developing stronger understanding of how environments can support and promote healthier food choices.

Indexed as

Consumer BehaviorDiet, HealthyFeeding BehaviorFood PreferencesFood SupplyPatient ComplianceUrban HealthAdultDecision MakingDietFamily CharacteristicsFood QualityHumansObesityQualitative ResearchResidence CharacteristicsFood environmentQualitativeReviewThematic synthesis

Identifiers

PMID28587691
PMCPMC10261492

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.