Identifying fast-food restaurants using a central register as a measure of the food environment

Ulla Toft, Peter Erbs-Maibing, Charlotte Glümer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To validate the identification and location of fast-food restaurants according to a government list of inspected food stores and restaurants.

METHODS: Fast-food restaurants in the Capital Region of Denmark were identified using a government list of inspected food stores and restaurants (the Smiley register, spring 2010). Ground-truthing was used as the validation method and was performed in May and June 2010 in 125 randomly selected 250×250 m grid cells.

RESULTS: A total of 186 fast-food restaurants was identified by ground-truthing and 99% of these were registered in the same grid cell by the Smiley register. However, only 152 restaurants of these were categorised as fast-food restaurants by both methods. The sensitivity was 82% and the positive predictive value was 92%. The mean±standard deviation position accuracy was 15±24 m.

CONCLUSIONS: Using a government list of inspected restaurants was found to be a valid and useful alternative to expensive and time-consuming field observation and provided a relatively accurate tool for identifying and locating fast-food restaurants in communities.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationengelsk
Number of pages6
Volume39
Publication dateDec 2011
Edition8
Pages864-9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2011
SeriesScandinavian Journal of Public Health
ISSN1403-4956

Keywords

  • Choice Behavior
  • Diet
  • Fast Foods/adverse effects
  • Food Preferences
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Public Health
  • Registries
  • Restaurants/statistics & numerical data
  • Social Environment
  • Socioeconomic Factors

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