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Recreation Facility Food and Beverage Environments in Ontario, Canada: An Appeal for Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Susan Caswell

    (School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada)

  • Patti-Jean Naylor

    (Institute of Applied Physical Activity and Health Research, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3P1, Canada)

  • Dana Olstad

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada)

  • Sara Kirk

    (Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Louise Mâsse

    (BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada)

  • Kim Raine

    (School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Rhona Hanning

    (School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada)

Abstract

Canadian, municipally funded recreation/sport facilities typically have unhealthy food environments. Ontario, unlike some provinces, lacks a voluntary recreation facility nutrition policy. This study assessed the healthfulness of food environments and vending sales in 16 Ontario recreation/sport facilities and, secondarily, compared data from facilities within municipalities that banned versus permitted plastic bottled-water sales (water-ban, n = 8; water, n = 8) to test the nutritional effects of environmental policy. Concession and vending packaged food/beverage offerings and vending sales were audited twice, eighteen months apart. The products were categorized using nutrition guidelines as Sell Most (SM) , Sell Sometimes (SS) , and Do Not Sell (DNS) . Both water and water-ban facilities offered predominantly (>87%) DNS packaged food items. However, proportions of DNS and SM concession and vending beverages differed ( p < 0.01). DNS beverages averaged 74% and 88% of vending offerings in water and water-ban facilities, respectively, while SM beverages averaged 14% and 1%, respectively. Mirroring offerings, DNS beverages averaged 79% and 90% of vending sales in water versus water-ban facilities. Ontario recreation/sport facilities provided unhealthy food environments; most food/beverage offerings were energy-dense and nutrient-poor. Water bans were associated with increased facility-based exposure to DNS beverage options. A nutrition policy is recommended to make recreation facility food/beverage environments healthier and to mitigate unintended negative consequences of bottled-water bans.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan Caswell & Patti-Jean Naylor & Dana Olstad & Sara Kirk & Louise Mâsse & Kim Raine & Rhona Hanning, 2021. "Recreation Facility Food and Beverage Environments in Ontario, Canada: An Appeal for Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:15:p:8174-:d:607150
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lana Vanderlee & Sahar Goorang & Kimiya Karbasy & Stefanie Vandevijvere & Mary R L’Abbé, 2019. "Policies to Create Healthier Food Environments in Canada: Experts’ Evaluation and Prioritized Actions Using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Olstad, Dana Lee & Prowse, Rachel J.L. & Raine, Kim D. & Tomlin, Dona & Kirk, Sara F. & McIsaac, Jessie-Lee D. & Mâsse, Louise C. & Caswell, M. Susan & Hanning, Rhona M. & Milford, Todd & Naylor, Patt, 2020. "Baseline results from the Eat, Play, Live trial: A randomized controlled trial within a natural experiment examining the role of nutrition policy and capacity building in improving food environments i," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Vander Wekken, Suzanne & Sørensen, Susanne & Meldrum, John & Naylor, Patti-Jean, 2012. "Exploring industry perspectives on implementation of a provincial policy for food and beverage sales in publicly funded recreation facilities," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(3), pages 279-287.
    4. Patti-Jean Naylor & Laura Bridgewater & Megan Purcell & Aleck Ostry & Suzanne Vander Wekken, 2010. "Publically Funded Recreation Facilities: Obesogenic Environments for Children and Families?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-14, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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