Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam

There is limited evidence on food environment in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the application of food environment frameworks and associated metrics in such settings. Our study examines how food environment varies across an urban-peri-urban-rural gradient from three sites in North Viet...

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Main Authors: Nguyen, Trang, Pham Thi Mai, Huong, Berg, Marrit van den, Huynh Thi Thanh Tuyen, Béné, Christophe
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118044
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author Nguyen, Trang
Pham Thi Mai, Huong
Berg, Marrit van den
Huynh Thi Thanh Tuyen
Béné, Christophe
author_browse Berg, Marrit van den
Béné, Christophe
Huynh Thi Thanh Tuyen
Nguyen, Trang
Pham Thi Mai, Huong
author_facet Nguyen, Trang
Pham Thi Mai, Huong
Berg, Marrit van den
Huynh Thi Thanh Tuyen
Béné, Christophe
author_sort Nguyen, Trang
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description There is limited evidence on food environment in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the application of food environment frameworks and associated metrics in such settings. Our study examines how food environment varies across an urban-peri-urban-rural gradient from three sites in North Viet Nam and its relationship with child undernutrition status and household consumption of processed food. By comparing three food environments, we present a picture of the food environment in a typical emerging economy with specific features such as non-market food sources (own production and food transfers) and dominance of the informal retail sector. We combined quantitative data (static geospatial data at neighborhood level and household survey) and qualitative data (in-depth interviews with shoppers). We found that across the three study sites, traditional open and street markets remain the most important outlets for respondents. Contrary to the common concern that urban households are the major consumers of processed foods, peri-urban and rural areas on average had higher consumption of ultra-processed foods than in urban areas. The low price levels of processed foods and the presence of processed foods even among the traditional convenience stores, those in closest proximity to the rural households, offer potential explanations of this result. Regarding undernutrition, low retail diversity and a household’s dependence on own production have important implications for the high prevalence of child undernutrition in rural areas. Our findings add to the current discussion on the critical role of the food environment on nutrition, such as the potential link between economic marginalization and access to food, and the role of food supply channels in consumption of processed foods.
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spelling CGSpace1180442025-11-11T18:53:33Z Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam Nguyen, Trang Pham Thi Mai, Huong Berg, Marrit van den Huynh Thi Thanh Tuyen Béné, Christophe food systems processed foods healthy diets malnutrition sistemas alimentarios alimentos procesados dieta saludable There is limited evidence on food environment in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the application of food environment frameworks and associated metrics in such settings. Our study examines how food environment varies across an urban-peri-urban-rural gradient from three sites in North Viet Nam and its relationship with child undernutrition status and household consumption of processed food. By comparing three food environments, we present a picture of the food environment in a typical emerging economy with specific features such as non-market food sources (own production and food transfers) and dominance of the informal retail sector. We combined quantitative data (static geospatial data at neighborhood level and household survey) and qualitative data (in-depth interviews with shoppers). We found that across the three study sites, traditional open and street markets remain the most important outlets for respondents. Contrary to the common concern that urban households are the major consumers of processed foods, peri-urban and rural areas on average had higher consumption of ultra-processed foods than in urban areas. The low price levels of processed foods and the presence of processed foods even among the traditional convenience stores, those in closest proximity to the rural households, offer potential explanations of this result. Regarding undernutrition, low retail diversity and a household’s dependence on own production have important implications for the high prevalence of child undernutrition in rural areas. Our findings add to the current discussion on the critical role of the food environment on nutrition, such as the potential link between economic marginalization and access to food, and the role of food supply channels in consumption of processed foods. 2021-08-21 2022-02-10T12:37:34Z 2022-02-10T12:37:34Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118044 en Open Access application/pdf MDPI Nguyen, T.; Pham Thi Mai, H.; van den Berg, M.; Huynh Thi Thanh, T.; Béné, C. (2021) Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam. Agriculture 11(8): 789. ISSN: 2077-0472
spellingShingle food systems
processed foods
healthy diets
malnutrition
sistemas alimentarios
alimentos procesados
dieta saludable
Nguyen, Trang
Pham Thi Mai, Huong
Berg, Marrit van den
Huynh Thi Thanh Tuyen
Béné, Christophe
Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam
title Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam
title_full Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam
title_fullStr Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam
title_full_unstemmed Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam
title_short Interactions between food environment and (Un)healthy consumption: Evidence along a rural-urban transect in Viet Nam
title_sort interactions between food environment and un healthy consumption evidence along a rural urban transect in viet nam
topic food systems
processed foods
healthy diets
malnutrition
sistemas alimentarios
alimentos procesados
dieta saludable
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/118044
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