Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30428873›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2018

Changes in the nutritional quality of products sold in university vending machines since implementation of the health star rating in 2014; an environmental audit.

Yumeng Shi, Amanda Lee Grech, Margaret Allman-Farinelli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
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

3 authors.

Yumeng ShiNutrition and Dietetics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Level 4 East, Building D17, John Hopkins Drive, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia. yshi7693@uni.sydney.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6684-6098
Amanda Lee GrechNutrition and Dietetics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Level 4 East, Building D17, John Hopkins Drive, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Margaret Allman-FarinelliNutrition and Dietetics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Level 4 East, Building D17, John Hopkins Drive, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSnacking is a prevalent dietary behaviour among young adults, which could independently contribute to weight gain. Vending machines provide easy access to unhealthy snacks and beverages for young adults in universities. A voluntary front-of-pack labelling, named the Health Star Rating (HSR) system, has been implemented nationally by the Australian government as one strategy to address obesity since 2014. The primary aim of this study was to detect changes in the availability, pricing and advertising of healthy and unhealthy snacks and beverages in university vending machines after introduction of the HSR.

methodsThe study design was two cross-sectional audits of university vending machines one before (in 2014) and another after (in 2017) the implementation of the HSR. Data collections were conducted in a large urban university (> 60,000 students). Every machine was assessed; the product's name, price, portion sizes and advertisements were recorded. Products were assigned an HSR to classify as healthy (≥3.5 stars) or unhealthy (< 3.5 stars). To compare the differences of product availability between 2014 and 2017, the Chi-square test was used.

resultsA total of 1836 and 2458 slots were audited in 2014 and 2017, respectively. The proportion of healthy snacks and beverages increased from 7 to 14% (p < 0.001) and 38 to 44% (p < 0.05) since 2014, respectively. The mean costs of unhealthy snacks and healthy beverages increased after three years. Healthy food and drink options were more expensive than unhealthy choices in 2017. Advertisements on vending machines for unhealthy foods and drinks remained prevalent.

conclusionOnly small changes have been observed in the availability of healthy snacks and beverages in vending machines since implementation of the HSR system. Policy directives are indicated to encourage further improvements.

Indexed as

Food Dispensers, AutomaticNutrition PolicyNutritive ValueAustraliaBeveragesCross-Sectional StudiesHumansSnacksUniversitiesDietFront-of-pack labellingNutritionPublic healthTertiary institutionsYoung adults

Identifiers

PMID30428873
PMCPMC6234540

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.