# Retail food environment around higher education institutions in a Brazilian metropolis

## TL;DR

This study examines the food environment around universities in Belo Horizonte, finding that most are located in unhealthy 'food swamp' areas with many fast food and alcohol options.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the food environment around higher education institutions in a Brazilian metropolis, highlighting disparities between public and private institutions and income areas.

## Key findings

- 98.76% of university buffers had at least one immediate consumption food establishment.
- 95.06% of universities were located in food swamp areas.
- Private universities and those in higher-income areas had higher food establishment density.

## Abstract

To analyze the retail food environment and identify the presence of food swamps around public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

This is an ecological study with the analysis unit being a 500-meter buffer network around 81 in-person HEI units. The density and proximity between the HEIs and food purchasing establishments for immediate consumption were assessed according to the administrative category and per capita income of the census tract, as well as the presence of food swamps.

In 98.76% of the buffers there was at least one establishment for immediate consumption. Snack bars, restaurants, and bars were the categories most available and closest to the HEIs. The density of establishments was higher around private HEIs and around HEIs located in higher income areas. It was found that 95.06% of HEIs were located in areas classified as food swamps.

Thus, the HEIs evaluated were exposed to neighborhoods with an unhealthy food environment, which may predispose university students to food choices based on the consumption of ultra-processed foods and alcoholic beverages.

Analisar o ambiente alimentar de varejo e identificar a presença de pântanos alimentares no entorno de instituições de ensino superior (IES) públicas e privadas de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

Trata-se de estudo ecológico, que teve como unidade de análise o buffer network de 500 metros, traçado no entorno de 81 unidades de IES com ensino presencial. Foram avaliadas a densidade e a proximidade entre as IES e estabelecimentos de aquisição de alimentos para consumo imediato, de acordo com a categoria administrativa e renda per capita do setor censitário, além da presença de pântanos alimentares.

Em 98,76% dos buffers existia pelo menos um estabelecimento para consumo imediato. Lanchonetes, restaurantes e bares foram as categorias mais disponíveis e mais próximas das IES. A densidade de estabelecimentos foi maior no entorno das IES privadas e no entorno das IES localizadas em áreas de maior renda. Verificou-se que 95,06% das IES estavam localizadas em áreas classificadas como pântanos alimentares.

Dessa forma, as IES avaliadas encontravam-se expostas a vizinhanças com ambiente alimentar não saudável, que podem predispor o público universitário a escolhas alimentares baseadas no consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e bebidas alcoólicas.