Abstract
Using a sample of adolescents from schools in Otago, New Zealand, associations between food outlets around schools and dietary quality were investigated. Food outlet environment data were derived using GIS data. Multivariate regression analysis results showed that outlet density, in an 800m buffer around schools, of cafes and restaurants, supermarkets and takeaways was associated with higher Diet Quality Index scores in boys, and distance to nearest outlet for convenience stores, cafes and restaurants and supermarkets with lower scores for girls. Effect sizes were small, suggesting that the food environment around schools plays a minor role in adolescent diet quality.
•Previous research has focused on young children who have little autonomy over food choice.•Boys attending schools in areas with more choice around food options had a better Diet Quality Index.•Less distance to local food outlets had a negative effect on diet quality for girls.•Access to and availability of food outlets around schools is weakly associated with dietary quality.•More work is needed investigating individual׳s food purchasing behaviours around school environments.