Obesity prevalence and the local food environment

Abstract

Disparities in access to healthy foods have been identified particularly in the United States. Fewer studies have measured the effects these disparities have on diet-related health outcomes. This study measured the association between the presence of food establishments and obesity among 1295 adults living in the southern region of the United States. The prevalence of obesity was lower in areas that had supermarkets and higher in area with small grocery stores or fast food restaurants. Our findings are consistent with other studies showing that types of food stores and restaurants influence food choices and, subsequently, diet-related health outcomes.

Changing foodscapes 1980–2000, using the ASH30 Study

“…Findings from non UK-based studies may not be fully transferable to the UK (Townshend and Lake In Press, Corrected Proof). Morland et al (2009), found equivocal results in their US study, with positive associations between obesity and household shopping (supermarkets) and negative associations between obesity and food to be consumed out of the home (fast food) at the census tract level; both of these associations are in contrast to the lack of association documented in this study, however once again, using buffer zones to denote neighbourhood environments in this study is a relative strength. Individuals in these cross-sectional studies were also required to self-report their heights and weights, whereas in The ASH30 Study, heights and weights were accurately measured by trained researchers.…”

The Association between Obesity and Urban Food Environments

“…Other researchers examining food store access and obesity have used a similar methodology of including more than one food retailer type in the same model. [8][9][10] …”

“…9 Morland et al demonstrated a similar inverse relationship for supermarket access and a positive association between fast food access and obesity prevalence. 10 A number of studies have found correlations between the food environment and dietary intake. [30][31][32][33][34] One study in particular, using an experimental design, found that individuals who previously consumed few fruits and vegetables significantly increased their consumption after a new supermarket was built in their neighborhood.…”

“…9 Although similar results were reported in the above-mentioned studies, the findings in the literature are not always consistent. The link between convenience store access and obesity has not been observed in some studies, 10,11 nor has greater supermarket access always been found to decrease obesity risk. 11 Mixed findings appear to be most common when assessing associations between fast food access and body weight outcomes.…”

“…11 Mixed findings appear to be most common when assessing associations between fast food access and body weight outcomes. About half of the current published literature has shown some positive association, 10,[12][13][14][15] while the remaining studies have not demonstrated a relationship between greater fast food access and obesity. 11,[16][17][18][19] Considering that only a limited number of studies have examined food access and body weight, with findings that are not always consistent, further research in this field is warranted.…”