The Association between Food Security and Store-Specific and Overall Food Shopping Behaviors

Abstract

Background Food security is a severe problem in the United States (US). Few studies have examined its relationship with food shopping behaviors. Objective This study aimed to examine the association between food security and store-specific and overall food shopping among residents of low-income neighborhoods. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants/setting 527 households were recruited from two counties in South Carolina from November, 2013 to May, 2014, and 474 households were included in the final analysis. Main outcomes measures Food security was assessed using the 18-item US-Household Food Security Module questionnaire, and classified into three categories: high or marginal food security (FS), low food secure (LFS), and very low food secure (VLFS). Store-specific shopping behaviors including frequency, store type, and transportation were queried via in-person interview for the three most-frequented grocery stores. Distance from participants’ homes to their reported stores was calculated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Statistical analyses Multivariate linear regression for analyses of distance and frequency and multinomial/ordinary logistic regression for analyses of store type and transportation were used. Results Compared to FS participants, a significantly higher proportion of VLFS participants reported a convenience/dollar store as their most-frequented store (odds ratio (OR) =2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI=1.08, 4.95) or a lack of transportation (OR=2.04, 95% CI=1.25, 3.33). They also shopped less frequently (b=−0.31, p-value=0.03) at their third most-frequented store and traveled fewer total miles for shopping (b=−4.71, p-value=0.04). In analyses considering all stores jointly, LFS participants had lower odds of shopping at both supermarkets and convenience/dollar stores (OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.21, 0.91) compared to FS residents. Conclusions The current findings suggest that households with very low food security tend to shop more frequently in stores that have less healthful options, such as convenience/dollar stores. These findings lend support to ongoing community and policy interventions aimed at improving food access among food-insecure populations.

Food Shopping and Acquisition Behaviors in Relation to BMI among Residents of Low-Income Communities in South Carolina

“…Shopping at a supercenter as one’s primary store and reporting that one considered lack of access a significant problem were both associated with higher BMI levels, whereas selecting a smaller store as one’s third most-frequented grocery store was associated with lower BMI levels. We have previously shown in this population that 76% of residents shopped at supermarkets or supercenters for both store 1 and 2 [ 27 ].…”

“…This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis using baseline data from an evaluation study of a healthy food access initiative, described previously [ 27 , 30 ]. In brief, the study was funded to evaluate the impact of a food hub intervention to increase healthy food access with a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design among a low-income population.…”

“…Although findings have been mixed with respect to which food shopping behaviors are associated with obesity, there seems to be some consistency, with studies finding few associations between obesity and distance to utilized store [ 11 , 12 , 15 , 22 ] but relatively consistent evidence for certain store types—particularly discount grocery stores—being associated with higher BMI and obesity [ 11 , 12 , 21 , 24 ]. However, most studies to date have focused their assessment of food shopping behaviors on the primary store, even though most households tend to utilize multiple stores [ 25 , 27 ].…”

Relationship between household food insecurity and food and nutrition literacy among children of 9–12 years of age: a cross-sectional study in a city of Iran

“…HFI is shown to be positively related to the several adverse health outcomes in children including infectious diseases, anemia, psychological distresses, and growth disorders [1]. Besides the socio-economic, there are some non-financial factors in determining food access at the household level, which are proposed that might influence access to healthy foods in low-income or food-insecure individuals [2,3]. One of the factors that have been recently gained attention is food and nutrition literacy (FNLIT).…”

Relationship between Household Food Insecurity and Food and Nutrition Literacy among Children of 9-12 years of age: a cross-sectional study in a city of Iran

“…Besides the socio-economic, there are some non-nancial factors in determining food access at the household level, which are proposed that might in uence access to healthy foods in low-income or foodinsecure individuals (2,3). One of the factors that have been recently gained attention is food and nutrition literacy (FNLIT).…”