title: Access to excess: how do adolescents deal with unhealthy foods in their environment?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Easy access to unhealthy foods is believed to contribute to the current overweight epidemic. It remains unclear, however, how access to unhealthy foods is related to self-regulation of food intake. This study tests the hypothesis that using self-regulation strategies buffers the negative influences of easy access to unhealthy foods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey data from 2764 adolescents aged 10-17 years from four European countries (The Netherlands, UK, Poland and Portugal) about use of self-regulation strategies, access to unhealthy foods and intake of unhealthy foods (sweet and salty snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages) were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both access to unhealthy foods and use of self-regulation strategies were independently, but in opposing directions, related to intake of unhealthy foods. Easy access to unhealthy food products was associated with higher consumption, but this effect could be attenuated by use of self-regulation strategies to facilitate healthy eating even when the food environment tempts one to do otherwise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotion policy and programs should not only address the food environment but could also teach young people better strategies to deal with it.
authors: 1 Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Emely
authors: E
authors: de Vet
authors: John B F
authors: JB
authors: de Wit
authors: Aleks
authors: A
authors: Luszczynska
authors: F Marijn
authors: FM
authors: Stok
authors: Tania
authors: T
authors: Gaspar
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Pratt
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Wardle
authors: Denise T D
authors: DT
authors: de Ridder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D011044:Poland; D011174:Portugal; D057566:Self Report; D012927:Social Control, Informal / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom