Effectiveness of nutrition interventions in vending machines in the university setting: A systematic review

摘要

Background: University food environments typically offer an abundance of unhealthy foods, including through vending machines. Current and evidence-based strategies are needed to improve the university food environment, and an updated review of the evidence for nutrition intervention studies in vending machines is warranted. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition interventions in vending machines in the university setting. Methods: Ten databases were searched for experimental studies published up to July 2019, evaluating nutrition interventions that aimed to encourage the purchase or consumption of healthy foods and drinks in vending machines in the university setting. Results: In total, 401 articles were identified, and 13 studies were included. Studies were pre-post test (n = 7, 54%), RCTs (n = 5, 38%) and non-randomised controlled trial (n = 1, 8%). Most studies were from the USA (n = 10, 77%) and published between 2014-2018 (n = 9, 69%). Eight interventions (62%) reported positive change in outcomes, including increased number/ proportion of sales or revenue from healthy items (n = 6), improved adherence to guidelines for the ratio of healthy/unhealthy products available (n = 1), and improved consumer perception of items available (n = 1). Effective interventions involved the promotion, reduced pricing, increased availability and/or optimised product placement of healthy items within vending machines. Conclusions: Strategies to improve the nutritional quality of food and drinks in vending machines are warranted. This may be achieved by making healthy options more available and promoting them, however more robust intervention studies are needed to determine effectiveness.