Exploring How School and Community Food Environment Shape the Food Choices of the Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

Introduction Adolescence obesity is the result of multifaceted and complex interactions between dietary habit, genetics, behavior and environment (Murukami et al, 2011). The food environment plays an important role in promoting or hindering positive dietary behaviour (Swinburn et al, 2003). Environmental influences can promote excess unhealthy dietary intakes, which triggers upward trend in obesity (Laska, 2010) Objective To explore perceived factors related to food choices and quality of diet in school and community food environment among adolescent. Methodology [Refer to Poster]. Results There are multifaceted factors present in food environments that potentially contribute to unfavourable patterns of dietary intake thus leading to higher body mass index (BMI). Discussion / Conclusion The shifting in eating culture in Malaysia has implications in terms of diet quality and obesity problem. Adolescents perceived very limited access to healthy options at home, school and community environment inline with study by Watts et al (2015). Findings were consistent with Meizi et al (2012) which revealed that the density of fast food outlets and accessibility to unhealthy food sources were perceived as one of the contributor for negative dietary habits. Tighter regulations should be set with regards to promotional and marketing prompts by fast food services and the quality of food by school canteens