The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) – A Systematic Review

Jun 20, 2023

A Tool for Understanding the Food Environment

The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) is a set of tools that researchers use to assess the availability of healthy food options in stores and restaurants. NEMS tools have been used in research for over 15 years and have been adapted for diverse settings and populations.

A recent systematic review published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine (AJPM) examined how NEMS tools have been used in published research. The review found that 190 articles from 18 countries had used NEMS tools. Most studies (69.5%) used a modified version of NEMS tools, and there were 23 intervention studies that used measures from NEMS tools or adaptations as outcomes, moderators, or process assessments.

 

Adapting to the times

The review also found that 41% (n=78) of the articles evaluated inter-rater reliability, and 17% (n=33) evaluated test–retest reliability. This suggests that NEMS tools are generally reliable and valid measures of the food environment.

The review concluded that NEMS measures have played an important role in the growth of research on food environments. NEMS tools have helped researchers to explore the relationships among healthy food availability, demographic variables, eating behaviors, health outcomes, and intervention-driven changes in food environments.

The review also noted that the food environment is constantly changing, so NEMS measures should continue to evolve. Researchers should document the data quality of modifications and use in new settings.

Conclusion

NEMS tools are a valuable tool for understanding the food environment. They have been used in a wide variety of research settings and have helped to advance our understanding of the relationships between the food environment and health. As the food environment continues to change, NEMS tools should continue to evolve to meet the needs of researchers.

Glanz K, Fultz AK, Sallis JF, Clawson M, McLaughlin KC, Green S, Saelens BE. Use of the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey: A Systematic Review. Am J Prev Med., 65:1, 131-142, July 2023. EPub March 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.02.008. PMID: 36990939.

NEMS Website

Penn Medicine Nurses Week – Community Day, May 14

Apr 5, 2022

In celebration of Nurses Week, HUP Engagement Team is planning a Community Day at Malcolm X Park where nurses can meet our community where they live and play and where they can play a role in sharing health education and awareness. Save the date for this outdoor event in Malcolm X Park, 400 S. 51st St, Philadelphia, from 11AM to 3PM on May 14, 2022.

Penn Medicine Nurses Week Flyer

 

 

Community-Driven Research Day

Jan 26, 2021

Information can be found here.

Community-Based Organizations interested in presenting can register HERE (the deadline has just been extended to 1/29/21 ).

Virtual Presentations

Join us for the 11th annual Community-Driven Research Day, co-sponsored by the Center for Violence Prevention. “Resilience and Action to Improve Health” will be held virtually on Thursday, 2/11 from 10am-12:30pm. Barbara Israel, DrPh, of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center is slated as the keynote speaker.

Making connections

The goal of the event is to encourage collaboration between university-based research partners and community-based organizations (CBOs). A connection will be made through virtual presentations in themed breakout sessions, where CBOs and community groups will highlight their questions to researchers. Experts will be available from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Drexel University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

This is a great opportunity for your community organization to connect with academic researchers, who have an interest in community/academic partnerships around public health concerns. Topics include, violence prevention, poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, health and wellness, etc.

Funding the future

Following the event, up to eight $10,000 pilot grants will be made available to support interdisciplinary, community-based participatory research in health. The available funding is limited to presenters of Community-Driven Research Day in partnership with faculty of CHOP, Penn, Temple, Drexel, Jefferson, and PCOM.

 

Year in Review – 2018

Jan 7, 2019

As we begin the new year 2019, we’ve compiled some highlights of the past year at the UPenn Prevention Research Center.  Enjoy the video, and note some of our key accomplishments.

  • The University of Pennsylvania made great strides towards promoting the health of students and staff, both mentally and physically. We aim to continue to contribute to these efforts!

  • The UPenn PRC Director, Karen Glanz, spent 4 months on  a sabbatical at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, where she became an expert voice in the debate over banning sunscreens with certain ingredients, thought to cause damage to coral reefs.

  • In November,  we explored the findings of tobacco control science research with experts from Penn and around the country. We saw broad acknowledgement of the epidemic of e-cigarette use, and learned more about the devices and the marketing of these products, and the policy options being considered.

We look forward to a healthy and productive 2019 and hope to help our community continue to advance chronic disease prevention for many healthy new years ahead!

 

Year in Review

Jan 18, 2018

2017 marked our 3rd year as a Prevention Research Center funded by the CDC. We look forward to new and continued collaborations across Penn, the Philadelphia area, and the PRC Network in 2018!

 

PRC Director, Karen Glanz Appointed to The Editorial Board: American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Oct 19, 2017

Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, was recently appointed to the Editorial Board for the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. “Members of the AJPM editorial board perform myriad services for the journal including peer reviewing, recommending reviewers in their areas of expertise, serving as guest editors for supplements and themes, and acting as ambassadors for the journal. Our editorial board members are key to helping AJPM stay at the forefront of preventive medicine and public health.”

 

Read more from the AJPM in their recent newletter here.