Obesogenic Assesment of the Primary Schools Environment: A Qualitative Narrative Analysis

BackgroundWhile multiple influences on childrens food choices and eating habits have been proposed, including genetic, familial and environmental influences, it is increasingly the environments they live in, including schools, that are receiving attention as sites for understanding health-related behaviors. AimTo analyse the infrastructure of Bruneis primary schools in terms of the level of obesogenicity and how the condition can be improved for the future. MethodsSite of research was five purposely selected primary schools in Brunei Darussalam. In this research, the obesogenic audit tool used were developed from the Primary School Environmental Audit (PSEA) tool. ResultsSimilarities and differences to the nutrition and physical activity environment across the five different schools was found. Consistency was observed across all school sites in the MOE and MOH formal rules and regulations that were applied to the school food-services operations. ConclusionThe use of a modified PSEA audit tool, has successfully enabled the successful identification of the various elements of primary schools in Brunei that may have contributed to an obesogenic environment. The research approach in this study was to not only examine a schools internal environment but its external environment as well. This ensured a more complete overview of what was in-place, allowing assessment of what could be better improved to make it more conducive to childhood obesity prevention.