Measurement tools to assess the obesogenic environment in neighborhood: a scoping review

The obesogenic environment encompasses factors that promote overweight and obesity, but few studies integrate both food and physical activity environments with limited details on measurement tools. This study aims to identify measurement tools and methodological approaches used to assess obesogenic environments at the neighborhood level.

We conducted a scoping review of studies from January 2014 to September 2023. The literature was searched using four primary themes: environment, obesity, physical activity, and food, focusing on studies with measurement tools for evaluating the obesogenic environment from a physical perspective, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications and non-GIS tools such as surveys and audits. Studies in specific population groups and settings such as patients and disadvantaged groups, studies at individual or household levels, and outcomes beyond obesity were excluded. Data were extracted and narratively synthesized, focusing on study characteristics, methodologies, and tools in alignment with the conceptual framework.

Seventy-nine studies were included, predominantly from high-income countries (HICs) (81%), with only one study from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sixty-four studies were cross-sectional design, with GIS commonly used for measurements (61.0%), followed by combined GIS and other tools (23%), and non-GIS (16%). Accessibility and availability of food and physical activity facilities were mostly identified (49%) such as density or proximity of food or physical activity facilities or calculated using the composite index such as Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI), along with infrastructure for walking, cycling, and transportation as walkability or Walk Score.

This scoping review summarizes tools and methods used to assess obesogenic environments at the neighborhood level. The review points to limited support for GIS tools in LMICs. Combining GIS with surveys and observational audits may help adapt assessment tools across diverse settings. These efforts could inform monitoring and guide actions addressing environmental contributors to non-communicable diseases.