Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
College/Unit
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department/Program/Center
Agricultural & Extension Education
Abstract
Background: This paper describes the development and validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing audit to comprehensively evaluate vended products based upon healthfulness, price and promotion, and machine accessibility. Methods: A novel vending nutrient-density score was created to determine the healthfulness of vended snack/beverage products. Field tested in United States colleges, VENDing audit (∑nutrient-density + 10 × % healthy products) and Support sub-scores (price + promotion + accessibility) were calculated for snack/beverage machines. Higher scores indicate more healthful vending options and supports for choosing healthfully. Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-Vending (NEMS-V) was used to validate the nutrient-density score for a sub-sample of machines. Sensitivity and specificity were computed by comparing the number of healthy snacks/beverages determined by NEMS-V and the VENDing nutrient-density scores. Results: Researchers conducted the VENDing audit on 228 snack/beverage vending machines at 9 universities within the United States and used both VENDing and NEMS-V on 33 snack and 52 beverage vending machines. Mean VENDing audit scores were 4.5 ± 2.0 (2.6, 3.4) and 2.6 ± 2.0 (0, 12) for snack/beverage machines, respectively. The number of products considered healthy assessed with both the VENDing nutrient-density scores and the NEMS-V were positively correlated for beverages (r = 0.687, p< 0.001) and snacks (r = 0.366, p < 0.05). The sensitivity was excellent for beverages (0.83) and moderate for snacks (0.69); while the specificity was moderate for both beverages (0.66) and snacks (0.50). Conclusions: The VENDing audit uses unique, valid, and reliable nutrient-density scoring to evaluate snacks/beverages along a continuum of healthful criteria and comprehensively evaluates the full vending environment.
Digital Commons Citation
Horacek, Tanya M.; Yildirim, Elif D.; Schreiber, Melissa M.; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol; Colby, Sarah; White, Adrienne A.; Shelnutt, Karla P.; Olfert, Melissa D.; Matthews, Anne E.; Riggsbee, Kristin; Frazen-Castle, Lisa; Morrell, Jesse S.; and Kattelmann, Kendra, "Development and Validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing Audit" (2019). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2378.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/2378
Source Citation
Horacek TM, Yildirim ED, Matthews Schreiber M, Byrd-Bredbenner C, Colby S, White AA, Shelnutt KP, Olfert MD, Mathews AE, Riggsbee K, Franzen-Castle L, Morrell JS, Kattelmann K. Development and Validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing Audit. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(3):514. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030514
Comments
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited