Study ID | Study setting (country, setting) | Study design | Dates of data collection | Population (n, description, age) | Food environment characteristic/s | Length of intervention | Outcome |
Aghdam, 201896 | Tabriz, Iran; School | cRCT | 2015 | 4 control and four intervention schools. 436 children (mean age 9.6). 55.6% female. | Av; M&R; D | 4 weeks | D; N |
Bandoni, 2011100 | Sao Paulo, Brazil; Workplaces | cRCT | Not reported | 15 intervention and 14 control companies. 1296 and 1214 workers aged 18+ per round of data collection (independent samples). Male majority. | M&R | 6 months | D |
Bonvecchio-Arenas, 2010; Safdie, 201395 108 | Mexico City, Mexico; School | 3-arm cRCT | 2006–2008 | 8 basic intervention schools, 7 intervention-plus schools and 11 control schools. 830 students (mean age 9.7 years). 50% females. Mean BMI 19.8 and prevalence of overweight/obesity 43%. | Av; M&R; D | 18 months | H, D |
Chawla, 201799 | Bangkok, Thailand; School | cRCT | Not reported | 2 intervention and two control schools. 452 children aged 10–12 (mean age 9.7 (intervention) 10.0 (control)). 53.5% females. 19.7% overweight or obese in the control group, 16.6% in the intervention group at baseline. | Av; | 6 months | H, D |
Shamah Levy, 201233 | State of Mexico, Mexico; School | cRCT | 2010–2011 | 30 intervention and 30 control schools. 997 children mainly aged 10–13 (modal age 10). 51.6% females and 49.7% females in intervention and control group respectively. Mean BMI 18.6–18.8. | Av; M&R | 6 months | H |
Steyn, 201598 | Western Cape, South Africa; School | Controlled study | 2009–2011 | 8 intervention and eight control schools. 998 children (mean age 9.9 in 2009, 12.3 in 2011) | Av; M&R | 3 years | D, N |
Yazdi-Feyzabadi, 201897 | Kerman, Iran; School | Cross-sectional study | 2015 | 40 schools 1242 children. 47.8% female | M&R | ~4 years | D |
Study design cRCT: food environment characteristics.
Given the heterogeneity in study design, methodology, exposure and outcomes, we have performed a narrative synthesis.
The characteristics of the food environment investigated in the included studies are further described in table 2.
Av, availability; BMI, body mass index; cRCT, cluster randomised controlled trial; D, desirability; M&R, marketing and regulation; N, nutrition; outcome H, health; V/P, vendor or product properties.