Unhealthy food outlets surround 94% of secondary schools, Amsterdam UMC finds

Food on offer in ten Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, has become less healthy over the past decade, according to research by Amsterdam UMC.

Of the neighbourhoods studied, 77% have become unhealthier since the research was first carried out in 2014.

The problem is clearest around schools, with 93.6% of secondary and MBO schools in areas with many outlets selling unhealthy food.

Researchers mapped the type, number and distance of food outlets in every neighbourhood of the ten cities.

On a scale from +500 (extremely healthy) to -500 (extremely unhealthy), all ten cities scored between -252 and -327.

Neighbourhoods within each city differ widely, from roughly neutral at 0 to as low as -450.

Researcher Maud ter Bogt says municipalities have had few tools to map their food environment, even though they are legally responsible for protecting residents’ health.

Her team’s new Voedseldrukmonitor, or food pressure monitor, gives councils and GGD health services a standard way to factor this into planning.

Ter Bogt links the wide availability of unhealthy food near schools, stations and homes to overweight and diet-related illness.

For healthier options, here’s where to shop for groceries and fresh market food around Amsterdam.

Source: metronieuws.nl