Christina Zorbas1, Amanda Lee2, Anna Peeters1, Meron Lewis2, Timothy Landrigan3, Kathryn Backholer1. 1. Global Obesity Centre, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. 2. The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre and The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. 3. School of Public Health, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of streamlined data-gathering techniques for examining the price and affordability of a healthy (recommended) and unhealthy (current) diet. We additionally estimated the price and affordability of diets across socio-economic areas and quantified the influence of different pricing scenarios. DESIGN: Following the Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing (ASAP) protocol, we compared a cross-sectional sample of food and beverage pricing data collected using online data and phone calls (lower-resource streamlined techniques) with data collected in-store from the same retailers. SETTING: Food and beverage prices were collected from major supermarkets, fast food and alcohol retailers in eight conveniently sampled areas in Victoria, Australia (n 72 stores), stratified by area-level deprivation and remoteness. PARTICIPANTS: This study did not involve human participants. RESULTS: The biweekly price of a healthy diet was on average 21 % cheaper ($596) than an unhealthy diet ($721) for a four-person family using the streamlined techniques, which was comparable with estimates using in-store data (healthy: $594, unhealthy: $731). The diet price differential did not vary considerably across geographical areas (range: 18-23 %). Both diets were estimated to be unaffordable for families living on indicative low disposable household incomes and below the poverty line. The inclusion of generic brands notably reduced the prices of healthy and unhealthy diets (≥20 %), rendering both affordable against indicative low disposable household incomes. Inclusion of discounted prices marginally reduced diet prices (3 %). CONCLUSIONS: Streamlined data-gathering techniques are a reliable method for regular, flexible and widespread monitoring of the price and affordability of population diets in areas where supermarkets have an online presence.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of streamlined data-gathering techniques for examining the price and affordability of a healthy (recommended) and unhealthy (current) diet. We additionally estimated the price and affordability of diets across socio-economic areas and quantified the influence of different pricing scenarios. DESIGN: Following the Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing (ASAP) protocol, we compared a cross-sectional sample of food and beverage pricing data collected using online data and phone calls (lower-resource streamlined techniques) with data collected in-store from the same retailers. SETTING: Food and beverage prices were collected from major supermarkets, fast food and alcohol retailers in eight conveniently sampled areas in Victoria, Australia (n 72 stores), stratified by area-level deprivation and remoteness. PARTICIPANTS: This study did not involve humanparticipants. RESULTS: The biweekly price of a healthy diet was on average 21 % cheaper ($596) than an unhealthy diet ($721) for a four-person family using the streamlined techniques, which was comparable with estimates using in-store data (healthy: $594, unhealthy: $731). The diet price differential did not vary considerably across geographical areas (range: 18-23 %). Both diets were estimated to be unaffordable for families living on indicative low disposable household incomes and below the poverty line. The inclusion of generic brands notably reduced the prices of healthy and unhealthy diets (≥20 %), rendering both affordable against indicative low disposable household incomes. Inclusion of discounted prices marginally reduced diet prices (3 %). CONCLUSIONS: Streamlined data-gathering techniques are a reliable method for regular, flexible and widespread monitoring of the price and affordability of population diets in areas where supermarkets have an online presence.
Authors: Damian Maganja; Mia Miller; Kathy Trieu; Tailane Scapin; Adrian Cameron; Jason H Y Wu Journal: Curr Atheroscler Rep Date: 2022-02-09 Impact factor: 5.967
Authors: Lily Grigsby-Duffy; Sally Schultz; Liliana Orellana; Ella Robinson; Adrian J Cameron; Josephine Marshall; Kathryn Backholer; Gary Sacks Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-03 Impact factor: 3.390