Obesity among black women in food deserts: An “omnibus” test of differential risk

Abstract

The “omnibus” hypothesis, as forwarded by Ford and Dzewaltowski (2008), asserts that poor-quality food environments differentially affect low- and high-socioeconomic status (SES) populations. Accordingly, we examine, in a large sample of non-Hispanic (NH) black women, whether low access to healthy food corresponds with increased risk of obesity among residents of low- and high-poverty neighborhoods. In addition, we analyze whether any discovered association between low-food access and obesity appears stronger in neighborhoods with a high proportion of black residents. We retrieved body mass index (BMI) data for 97,366 NH black women residing in 6258 neighborhoods from the California Department of Public Health birth files for years 2007-2010. We linked BMI data with census tract-level data on neighborhood food access from the 2010 Food Access Research Atlas and neighborhood poverty and black composition from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. We applied generalized estimating equation methods that permit analysis of clustered data within neighborhoods. Methods also controlled for individual-level characteristics which might confound the relation between food access and obesity, including health insurance status, age, education, and parity. Results indicate that low-food access does not impact risk of obesity among NH black women residing in low-poverty neighborhoods. However, low-food access varies positively with risk of obesity in high-poverty neighborhoods. Moreover, the association between low-food access and obesity appears stronger in high-poverty, high-black composition neighborhoods, relative to high-poverty, low-black composition neighborhoods. Our findings support the omnibus hypothesis and indicate a potential interaction between factors in the local food and social environments on an individual’s risk of obesity.

Analyzing access: an analysis of food desert coverage during COVID-19

“…It is also associated with higher risks of being hospitalized and poorer general health and with having asthma, behavioral problems, depression, suicide ideation, and worse oral health. (Gailey et al, 2019). This is concise with other studies that were conducted that also highlighted that the group of people to deal with the impacts of food insecurity were vulnerable populations (Alaimo, 2005).…”

Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Resting-State High-Frequency Heart Rate Variability in Binge-Eating Disorder

“…Particularly relevant to BED is the association between HRV and weight. In general, people with BED report higher weights, and higher weight is associated with lower HRV; however, the association between weight and HRV might not be so simplistic and could be explained by other In other words, it is unclear whether it is the physical effects of high weight itself or if it is variables associated with a higher weight [e.g., weight stigma (Puhl et al, 2020;Tomiyama, 2014), socioeconomic status (Ball & Crawford, 2005), nutritional access (Brown et al, 2019;Gailey & Bruckner, 2019;Lopez, 2007)] that best account for associations between HRV and weight status. In the studies in this meta-analysis, these correlates, which could be confounders of weight status, were not systematically assessed and controlled for in the original analyses.…”

“…Compared to people without high weights, individuals with high weights tend to show lower HRV (e.g., Dias et al, 2017; Laederach-Hofmann et al, 2000; Rossi et al, 2015; Tonhajzerova et al, 2008; Yadav et al, 2017); however, it should be noted that BMI itself has not always been correlated with HRV in individuals with high weights (Yadav et al, 2017). Importantly, it is possible that correlates of higher weight, including, but not limited to, socioeconomic status (Ball & Crawford, 2005), increased exposure to discrimination or stigma based on weight (Puhl et al, 2020; Tomiyama, 2014), and poorer nutritional intake due to decreased accessibility (Brown et al, 2019; Gailey & Bruckner, 2019; Lopez, 2007), may instead be driving associations between HRV and weight.…”

Obesity and the Bidirectional Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases in African Americans: Disparity vs. Ancestry

“…This is a reason why many AAs live in food deserts with low availability of affordable, healthy foods (17,66). In addition, certain areas have poor access to quality education and primary care physicians, leading to a lack of knowledge about weight management and healthy eating (67)(68)(69). Further, lack of access to quality education leads to lowerincome and poverty, thereby reducing economic advancement opportunities (16,70).…”