WEIRD and non-consensual food deserts and swamps: A scoping review of operational definitions.

María Rosa Curutchet, Gastón Ares, Leticia Vidal, Gerónimo Brunet, Sergio Turra, Luciana Bonilla, María Costa, Sofía Verdier, Florencia Alcaire

Journal: Health & place 2024;89():103315

PMID: 39013213

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to critically analyze operational definitions of food deserts and food swamps included in empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals. A scoping review was conducted following the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. A search of the scientific literature was performed on August 2023 to identify empirical studies including operational definitions of food deserts and/or food swamps in three databases: Scopus, PubMed, and Scielo. A total of 932 scientific articles were identified in the three databases, from which 157 articles, published between 2002 and 2023, were included in the review. The included studies were mainly conducted in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrilaized, Rich and Democractic) countries. They presented a total of 107 operational definitions of food deserts and 30 operational definitions of food swamps. Large heterogeneity in the operational definitions of food deserts and food swamps was found. Published studies differed in all the elements of the operational definitions analyzed in the present work. Results stress the need for standardization and the development of more objective and multivariate continuous measures of physical food accessibility that reflect the complexity of modern food environments globally. A series of recommendations to advance food environment research are derived.

Address: Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n, CP 91000, Pando, Uruguay. Electronic address: [email protected].; Escuela de Nutrición, Universidad de la República, Av. Ricaldoni S/N, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.; Instituto Nacional de Alimentación, Ministerio de Desarrollo Social, Piedras 165, CP 11000, Montevideo, Uruguay.; Espacio Interdisciplinario, Universidad de la República, José Enrique Rodó 1843, CP 11200, Montevideo, Uruguay.; Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n, CP 91000, Pando, Uruguay.

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103315

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Food Supply, Food Insecurity, Environment