scholarly journals The association between the food environment and weight status among eastern North Carolina youth

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1610-1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie B Jilcott ◽  
Scott Wade ◽  
Jared T McGuirt ◽  
Qiang Wu ◽  
Suzanne Lazorick ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo examine associations between various measures of the food environment and BMI percentile among youth.DesignCross-sectional, observational.SettingPitt County, eastern North Carolina.SubjectsWe extracted the electronic medical records for youth receiving well child check-ups from January 2007 to June 2008. We obtained addresses for food venues from two secondary sources and ground-truthing. A geographic information systems database was constructed by geocoding home addresses of 744 youth and food venues. We quantified participants’ accessibility to food venues by calculating ‘coverage’, number of food venues in buffers of 0·25, 0·5, 1 and 5 miles (0·4, 0·8, 1·6 and 8·0 km) and by calculating ‘proximity’ or distance to the closest food venue. We examined associations between BMI percentile and food venue accessibility using correlation and regression analyses.ResultsThere were negative associations between BMI percentile and coverage of farmers’ markets/produce markets in 0·25 and 0·5 mile Euclidean and 0·25, 0·5 and 1 mile road network buffers. There were positive associations between BMI percentile and coverage of fast-food and pizza places in the 0·25 mile Euclidean and network buffers. In multivariate analyses adjusted for race, insurance status and rural/urban residence, proximity (network distance) to convenience stores was negatively associated with BMI percentile and proximity to farmers’ markets was positively associated with BMI percentile.ConclusionsAccessibility to various types of food venues is associated with BMI percentile in eastern North Carolina youth. Future longitudinal work should examine correlations between accessibility to and use of traditional and non-traditional food venues.

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 2846-2854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Valpiani ◽  
Parke Wilde ◽  
Beatrice Rogers ◽  
Hayden Stewart

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the effect of seasonality on fruit and vegetable availability and prices across three outlet types (farmers’ markets, roadside stands and conventional supermarkets).DesignCross-sectional survey of geographically clustered supermarkets, farmers’ markets and roadside stands. Enumerators recorded the availability and lowest price for eleven fruits and eighteen vegetables in each season of 2011.SettingPrice data were collected at retail outlets located in central and eastern North Carolina.SubjectsThe sample consisted of thirty-three supermarkets, thirty-four farmers’ markets and twenty-three roadside stands.ResultsOutside the local harvest season, the availability of many fruits and vegetables was substantially lower at farmers’ markets and roadside stands compared with supermarkets. Given sufficient availability, some items were significantly cheaper (P<0·05) at direct retail outlets in the peak season (e.g. cantaloupe cost 36·0 % less at roadside stands than supermarkets), while others were significantly more expensive (e.g. carrots cost 137·9 % more at farmers’ markets than supermarkets). Although small samples limited statistical power in many non-peak comparisons, these results also showed some differences by item: two-thirds of fruits were cheaper at one or both direct outlets in the spring and autumn, whereas five of eighteen vegetables cost more at direct retail year-round.ConclusionsCommonly consumed fruits and vegetables were more widely available at supermarkets in central and eastern North Carolina than at direct retail outlets, in each season. Contingent on item availability, price competitiveness of the direct retail outlets varied by fruit and vegetable. For many items, the outlets compete on price in more than one season.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Romão Nogueira ◽  
Mariane de Mello Fontanelli ◽  
Breno Souza de Aguiar ◽  
Marcelo Antunes Failla ◽  
Alex Antonio Florindo ◽  
...  

The obesogenic environment stimulates an inadequate diet by hampering healthy choices. This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between the local food environment and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a representative sample population of adolescents living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, using multilevel logistic regression models. Among the adolescents, 29.6% were overweight/obese. There were no significant differences between food environment and adolescents’ weight status. However, the presence of fast food restaurants near their home increased the chances of being overweight or obese (OR = 2.53; 95%CI: 1.02-6.27). Results suggest the need to intensify food and nutrition policies, development of culinary skills, and the reduction in prices of healthy foods to facilitate access to these foods, so that adolescents have options in locations to socialize with friends and family.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Casey J. Kelley ◽  
Karla L. Hanson ◽  
Grace A. Marshall ◽  
Leah C. Volpe ◽  
Stephanie Jilcott Pitts ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To examine cross-sectional associations between farmers’ market shopping behaviors and objectively measured and self-reported fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among rural North Carolina (NC) and New York City (NYC) shoppers. Design: Cross-sectional intercept surveys were used to assess self-reported FV intake and three measures of farmers’ market shopping behavior: (1) frequency of purchasing FV, (2) variety of FV purchased, and (3) dollars spent on FV. Skin carotenoids, a non-invasive biomarker for FV intake, were objectively measured using pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy. Associations between farmers’ market shopping behaviors and FV intake were examined using regression models that controlled for demographic variables (e.g., age, sex, race, smoking status, education, income, and state). Setting: Farmers’ markets (n=17 markets) in rural NC and NYC. Participants: A convenience sample of 645 farmers’ market shoppers. Results: Farmers’ market shoppers in NYC purchased a greater variety of FV and had higher skin carotenoid scores compared to shoppers in rural NC. Among all shoppers, there was a positive, statistically significant association between self-reported frequency of shopping at farmers’ markets and self-reported as well as objectively assessed FV intake. The variety of FV purchased and farmers’ market spending on FV also were positively associated with self-reported FV intake, but not skin carotenoids. Conclusion: Those who shop for FV more frequently at a farmers’ markets, purchase a greater variety of FV, and spend more money on FV have higher self-reported, and in some cases higher objectively measured FV intake. Further research is needed to understand these associations and test causality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruopeng An ◽  
Li He ◽  
MS Jing Shen

AbstractObjective:This study systematically reviewed literature on the neighbourhood food environment in relation to diet and obesity among residents in China.Design:A keyword search of peer-reviewed articles was performed in Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science. Eligibility criteria include study designs: longitudinal/cohort studies or cross-sectional studies; study participants: people of all ages; exposures: neighbourhood food environment (e.g. restaurants, supermarkets, wet markets, fast-food restaurants, or convenience stores); outcomes: diet and/or body weight status; and country: China.Results:Seventeen studies met all criteria and were included. Among the eight studies that assessed the neighbourhood food environment in relation to diet, six reported at least one statistically significant relationship in the expected direction, whereas the remaining two exclusively reported null effects. Among the eleven studies that assessed the neighbourhood food environment in relation to body weight or overweight/obesity, ten reported a significant association whereas the remaining one reported a null relationship. Variety, density, and proximity of food outlets were positively associated with local residents’ dietary diversity, portion size, and daily caloric intake. Density and proximity of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores were positively associated with local residents’ adiposity in some but not all studies. Evidence linking any specific food outlet type to diet/obesity remains lacking due to the small number of studies and heterogeneities in food environment measures, geographical locations, and population subgroups.Conclusions:The neighbourhood food environment may influence diet and obesity among Chinese residents but the evidence remains preliminary. Future studies adopting an experimental study design and objective/validated environment and dietary measures are warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Shahrukh Khan ◽  
Hina Nauman ◽  
Sania Saher ◽  
Hafiza Arifa Imtiaz ◽  
Amina Bibi ◽  
...  

Obesity has become a pandemic problem and it is infamous for causing both physical and psychological disorders. Even though obesity is influenced by many factors which include fast food, menopause, socioeconomic status, and genetics, however, gender has paramount importance as a factor that affects obesity when we do not consider other factors. Thus, our current research study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and influence of gender on it. Our current cross-sectional descriptive study was finished in almost 6 months from August 2020 to January 2021 among general population of Pak Aran Society Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. 183 people were recruited in study in accordance to set criteria of exclusion and inclusion. Only those people whose age was from above 20 years to below 61 years, and who had no physical or mental illness and were willing to participate were enrolled in study. Data collection was done through one self-structured proforma and WHO Classification of Weight Status established on BMI. SPSS version 25 was applied to perform data analysis. Various statistical tests like Chi-square test, Independent Sample t-test, and One-Way ANOVA test were used to evaluate the study variables and their relationship. Overall, our current study indicates high prevalence (19.10%) of obesity among all participants, nevertheless, mean of BMI value was higher among women (26.26 SD of ±3.70) as compared to men (25.06 with SD of ±4.27) which shows that women had higher risk of development of obesity than men. However, relationship between obesity and gender was statistically insignificant (p=0.262). The difference of BMI mean value between women and men was significant statistically (p=0.046). Significance difference was also observed in BMI mean value of across four grades of weight status (p=0.0001). In summary, in general, prevalence of obesity is higher among women than among men which means female gender raises the obesity incidence among women.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Laura A. van der Velde ◽  
Femke M. P. Zitman ◽  
Joreintje D. Mackenbach ◽  
Mattijs E. Numans ◽  
Jessica C. Kiefte-de Jong

Abstract Objective The current study aimed to explore the interplay between food insecurity, fast-food outlet exposure, and dietary quality in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Design In this cross-sectional study, main associations between fast-food outlet density and proximity, food insecurity status and dietary quality were assessed using Generalized Estimating Equation analyses. We assessed potential moderation by fast-food outlet exposure in the association between food insecurity status and dietary quality by testing for effect modification between food insecurity status and fast-food outlet density and proximity. Setting A deprived urban area in the Netherlands. Participants We included 226 adult participants with at least one child below the age of 18 years living at home. Results Fast-food outlet exposure was not associated with experiencing food insecurity (fast-food outlet density: b=-0.026, 95%CI=-0.076; 0.024; fast-food outlet proximity: b=-0.003, 95%CI=-0.033; 0.026). Experiencing food insecurity was associated with lower dietary quality (b=-0.48 per unit increase, 95%CI=-0.94; -0.012). This association was moderated by fast-food outlet proximity (p-interaction=0.008), and stratified results revealed that the adverse effect of food insecurity on dietary quality was more pronounced for those with the nearest fast-food outlet located closer to the home. Conclusions Food insecurity but not fast-food outlet density is associated with dietary quality. However, the association between food insecurity and dietary quality may be modified by the food environment. These findings could inform policy-makers to promote a healthier food environment including less fast-food outlets, with particular emphasis on areas with high percentages of food insecure households.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 503-503
Author(s):  
Kiara Amaro-Rivera ◽  
Elena Carbone

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the association between fast food consumption, sociodemographic and health-related variables among adults living in a small rural community in Puerto Rico. Methods This study was cross-sectional. A researcher-designed questionnaire was distributed to every household in the community. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between fast food consumption (&lt;1 or ≥1 time/week), and the following independent variables: age; gender; education; poverty level estimate; employment status; weight status; self-rated health; self-perceived diet quality; self-perceived weight status; currently trying to lose weight; fruit, non-starchy vegetables, starchy vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) intake; physical activity; and recreational screen time. Results A total of 195 adults aged ≥18 years participated in this study. Of these, 53.1% were female, 53.1% completed more than high school, 45.4% were employed, 28.7% were overweight and 32.3% were obese. Over one-third (34.9%) of participants reported consuming fast food ≥1 time/week. Eating fast food ≥1 time/week was associated with ages 35–49 years (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16–0.94) and ≥50 years (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03–0.32) as compared to being 18–34 years old; being unemployed/homemaker/disabled (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08–0.73) as compared to being employed; being obese (OR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.02–9.85) as compared to being under/normal weight; currently trying to lose weight (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.31–6.88) as compared to those not trying to lose weight; eating fewer than 1 cup of non-starchy vegetables daily (OR = 0.39 95% CI: 0.16–0.93) as compared to those who eat ≥1cup daily; and drinking SSB ≥1 times daily (OR = 3.80 95% CI: 1.50–9.60) as compared to those who drink SSB less than once daily in the adjusted model. Conclusions Fast food consumption was associated with older age, employment, obesity, trying to lose weight, and intake of non-starchy vegetables and SSB in our sample. Future research should examine the relationship between fast food consumption and diet quality among those living in rural communities, as previous research has shown that Puerto Ricans living in urban areas are undergoing a nutrition transition to lower quality diets. Funding Sources The authors received no financial support for this research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zewditu Demissie ◽  
Danice K. Eaton ◽  
Richard Lowry ◽  
Allison J. Nihiser ◽  
Jennifer L. Foltz

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and correlates of missing meals among adolescents. Design: The 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, a cross-sectional study. Setting: School based. Participants: A nationally representative sample of 11 429 high school students. Measures: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumption; demographics; measured and perceived weight status; physical activity and sedentary behaviors; and fruit, vegetable, milk, sugar-sweetened beverage, and fast-food intake. Analysis: Prevalence estimates for missing breakfast, lunch, or dinner on ≥1 day during the past 7 days were calculated. Associations between demographics and missing meals were tested. Associations of lifestyle and dietary behaviors with missing meals were examined using logistic regression controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade. Results: In 2010, 63.1% of students missed breakfast, 38.2% missed lunch, and 23.3% missed dinner; the prevalence was highest among female and non-Hispanic black students. Being overweight/obese, perceiving oneself to be overweight, and video game/computer use were associated with increased risk of missing meals. Physical activity behaviors were associated with reduced risk of missing meals. Students who missed breakfast were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables and more likely to consume sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food. Conclusion: Breakfast was the most frequently missed meal, and missing breakfast was associated with the greatest number of less healthy dietary practices. Intervention and education efforts might prioritize breakfast consumption.


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