scholarly journals Local Retail Food Environment and Consumption of Fruit and Vegetable among Adults in Hong Kong

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Bo Huang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Fruit Consumption ◽  
Retail Food Environment ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Retail Food

Outside of western countries, the study of the local food environment and evidence for its association with dietary behavior is limited. The aim of this paper was to examine the association between the local retail food environment and consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) among adults in Hong Kong. Local retail food environment was measured by density of different types of retail food outlets (grocery stores, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants) within a 1000 m Euclidean buffer around individual’s homes using a geographic information system (GIS). The Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) was calculated based on the relative density of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores. Logistic regressions were performed to examine associations using cross-sectional data of 1977 adults (18 years or older). Overall, people living in an area with the highest RFEI (Q4, >5.76) had significantly greater odds of infrequent FV consumption (<7 days/week) after covariates adjustment (infrequent fruit consumption: OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.04–1.78; infrequent vegetable consumption: OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.11–2.68) in comparison to the lowest RFEI (Q1, <2.25). Highest density of fast food restaurants (Q4, >53) was also significantly associated with greater odds of infrequent fruit consumption (<7 days/week) (unadjusted model: OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.04–1.73), relative to lowest density of fast food restaurants (Q1, <13). No significant association of density of grocery stores or convenience stores was observed with infrequent FV consumption regardless of the covariates included in the model. Our results suggest that the ratio of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores near people’s home is an important environmental factor in meeting fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines. “Food swamps” (areas with an abundance of unhealthy foods) rather than “food deserts” (areas where there is limited access to healthy foods) seems to be more of a problem in Hong Kong’s urban areas. We advanced international literature by providing evidence in a non-western setting.

scholarly journals Nutrition Environment Scores of Local Food Retailers and Proximity to Study Participants' Residence in Rural South (P04-157-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Goodman ◽  
Jessica Thomson ◽  
Alicia Landry
Keyword(s):  
African American Women ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Fast Food Restaurant ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Food Retailers ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Objectives An 18-month, two-arm, randomized, controlled trial designed to evaluate the comparative impact of two home visiting programs on gestational weight gain, postpartum weight loss, and diet was conducted with rural, Southern, African American women. Although nutrition education was an experimental treatment component, the intervention was not effective at improving participants’ poor diets. To better understand the dietary choices made by these women, an examination of the food environment was conducted in the towns in which they resided. Methods Food retailers were measured with the Nutritional Environment Measures Surveys (NEMS). ArcGIS was used to geocode study participants’ residence and food retailers and to compute driving distances between participants’ residence and food retailers. Participants’ diet quality was measured with Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Associations among food retailers’ type and NEMS score, driving distances between residences and food retailers, and HEI total and component scores were examined. Results Significant differences between types of food retailers were found for % of maximum NEMS scores: grocery stores (60%), full service restaurants (42%), fast food restaurants (36%), and convenience stores (26%). Participants were closer to convenience stores (mean = .4 miles) and fast food restaurants (mean = .5 miles) than to full service restaurants (mean = 1.1 miles) and grocery stores (mean = 1.6 miles). Three-fourths of participants lived within ½ mile of a convenience store and two-thirds lived within ½ mile of a fast food restaurant, while 6% lived within ½ mile of a grocery store. Only 19% shopped at their closest grocery store while two-thirds traveled a greater distance to shop at a larger national chain grocery store. The mean distance to the closest grocery store was 1.6 miles as compared to 4.2 miles for the store where most of the food was purchased. The refined grains HEI score was negatively correlated with distances to the closest convenience store, fast food restaurant, and full service restaurant. Conclusions The food environment of these rural, Southern, African American women provided numerous, convenient opportunities for unhealthy eating. Funding Sources US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.

scholarly journals Impact of neighbourhood food environment on diet and obesity in China: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruopeng An ◽  
Li He ◽  
MS Jing Shen
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Local Residents

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.

scholarly journals Association between Neighborhood Food Environment and Body Mass Index among Older Adults in Beijing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7658
Author(s):  
Man Zhang ◽  
Wen Guo ◽  
Na Zhang ◽  
Hairong He ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Neighborhood Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Beijing China

Objective: To investigate the association between the neighborhood food environment and body mass index (BMI) among Chinese older adults. Methods: A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to recruit participants from 12 communities in Beijing, China, in 2019. Participants (n = 1764, 1034 women) in this study were older adults aged 65 to 80. We collected the participants’ basic information, measured their height and weight, and calculated their BMI. Neighborhood food environments were measured by the density of and proximity to different food outlets using the Baidu Map Application Programming Interface. Adjusted multiple linear regression was performed to estimate the association between the food environment and BMI. Results: Participants had a mean age of 69.7 ± 4.32 years old and an average BMI of 26.3 ± 3.50 kg/m2. Among the three types of stores, convenience stores had the easiest access, followed by greengrocers and supermarkets. Sit-down restaurants had the best access among different restaurants, followed by Chinese fast-food restaurants, and western fast-food restaurants had the worst access. Easier access to greengrocers (β = 0.281, p < 0.001) and sit-down restaurants (β = 0.304, p < 0.001) was associated with higher BMI in the 250 m buffer zone. More supermarkets were associated with higher BMI in the 500 m buffer zone (β = 0.593, p < 0.001). Access to convenience stores was positively associated with BMI in the 800 m buffer zone (β = 0.057, p < 0.001). Better access to Chinese fast-food restaurants was associated with higher BMI (β = 0.071, p = 0.001), and better access to western fast- food restaurants was associated with lower BMI (β = −0.400, p < 0.001) in the 1000 m buffer zone. There was a negative association between the nearest distance to greengrocers and BMI (β = −0.004, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although we found some significant associations between the neighborhood food environment and obesity, the current results are not strong enough to draw specific conclusions. Policymakers will need to rely on more evidence to derive concrete policy recommendations.

Retail food environment around schools and overweight: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 841-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Marien da Costa Peres ◽  
Danielle Soares Gardone ◽  
Bruna Vieira de Lima Costa ◽  
Camila Kümmel Duarte ◽  
Milene Cristine Pessoa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Retail Food

Abstract Context The presence of retail food establishments around schools can be a potentiating or protective factor for overweight in students, depending on access to these places as well as types of foods available therein. The hypothesis for this study was that a greater density and proximity of retail food establishments around schools influence the weight of students. Objective To systematically review the available observational literature on the association between retail food establishments around schools and the occurrence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren and adolescents. Data Sources Observational studies were searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases published until May 2019. Data Extraction Two independent reviewers extracted relevant data. Data Analysis Data on the 31 included studies were summarized with narrative synthesis according to meta-analyses of observational studies in epidemiology, exploring the type of food establishments around schools and analyzing qualitatively the impact of proximity or density on overweight and obesity rates. Conclusion Of the 31 articles, a direct association between proximity or density of establishments (mainly fast food restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores) around schools and overweight and obesity in children and adolescents were found in 14 studies. However, authors of 13 papers found no association and inverse association was presented in 4 papers. The studies presented different methods of classification, location, and analysis of retail food establishments, making it difficult to conclude the real influence that the presence of these establishments near schools have on the nutritional status of children and adolescents. Therefore, future studies should consider the use of longitudinal designs and standardized analysis of the food environment around schools to better understand this food environment and its influence on health-related behaviors.

scholarly journals The retail food environment and its association with body mass index in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Pineda ◽  
Eric J. Brunner ◽  
Clare H. Llewellyn ◽  
Jennifer S. Mindell
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Density Increase ◽  
Convenience Store ◽  
Food Outlet ◽  
Retail Food Environment ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Retail Food

Abstract Background/Objective Mexico has one of the highest rates of obesity and overweight worldwide, affecting 75% of the population. The country has experienced a dietary and food retail transition involving increased availability of high-calorie-dense foods and beverages. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the retail food environment and body mass index (BMI) in Mexico. Subjects/Methods Geographical and food outlet data were obtained from official statistics; anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic characteristics of adult participants (N = 22,219) came from the nationally representative 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). Densities (store count/census tract area (CTA)) of convenience stores, restaurants, fast-food restaurants, supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores were calculated. The association of retail food environment variables, sociodemographic data and BMI was tested using multilevel linear regression models. Results Convenience store density was high (mean (SD) = 50.0 (36.9)/CTA) compared with other food outlets in Mexico. A unit increase in density of convenience stores was associated with a 0.003 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.0006, 0.005, p = 0.011) increase in BMI, equivalent to 0.34 kg extra weight for an adult 1.60 m tall for every additional 10% store density increase (number of convenience stores per CTA (km2)). Metropolitan areas showed the highest density of food outlet concentration and the highest associations with BMI (β = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.004–0.01, p < 0.001). A 10% store density increase in these areas would represent a 1 kg increase in weight for an adult 1.60 m tall. Conclusions Convenience store density was associated with higher mean BMI in Mexican adults. An excessive convenience store availability, that offers unhealthy food options, coupled with low access to healthy food resources or stores retailing healthy food, including fruits and vegetables, may increase the risk of higher BMI. This is the first study to assess the association of the retail food environment and BMI at a national level in Mexico.

scholarly journals Childhood Obesity: Is the Built Environment More Important Than the Food Environment?

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117955652093212
Author(s):  
Wenes Pereira Reis ◽  
Mark Ghamsary ◽  
Caroline Galustian ◽  
Henrik Galust ◽  
Patti Herring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Parents Education

Obesity continues to be a health burden to society and new efforts may be needed to combat this epidemic. This study aims to investigate the contribution of parents education and level of income, food environment (grocery stores and fast food restaurants), and built environment (perceived safety, availability/quantity of parks) on childhood obesity. This cross-sectional observational study explored whether parents education and income level, built environment, and food environment can affect children with obesity. Participants were selected from 3 separate elementary schools located in an urban community with higher risk to have children with obesity in Montclair, California. Children living in families with low incomes have 2.31 times greater odds to be affected by obesity than children living in higher income homes. Children whose parents did not feel safe in their neighborhoods had odds of obesity 2.23 times greater than those who reported their neighborhoods as safe. Age also appeared to be a risk factor, and the odds of children affected by obesity among children 8 to 9 years was 0.79, and the odds of being affected by obesity among children 10 to 11 years of age was 0.36, when compared to children 6 to 7 years old. Findings suggest that low family income, perceptions of neighborhoods as unsafe, and young age are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) percentiles among children living in poor neighborhoods in Montclair, California.

scholarly journals How Food Environment Impacts Dietary Consumption and Body Weight: A Country-wide Observational Study of 2.3 Billion Food Logs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Althoff ◽  
Hamed Nilforoshan ◽  
Jenna Hua ◽  
Jure Leskovec
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Food Access ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Predominantly Black ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Relative Change

IMPORTANCE An unhealthy diet is a key risk factor for chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Limited access to healthy food options may contribute to unhealthy diets. However, previous studies of food environment have led to mixed results, potentially due to methodological limitations of small sample size, single location, and non-uniform design across studies. OBJECTIVE To quantify the independent impact of fast food and grocery access, income and education on food consumption and weight status. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective cohort study of 1,164,926 participants across 9,822 U.S. zip codes logging 2.3 billion consumed foods. Participants were users of the MyFitnessPal smartphone application and used the app to monitor their caloric intake for an average of 197 days each (min 10, max 1,825 days, STD=242). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcomes were relative change in consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, fast food, and soda, as well as relative change in likelihood of overweight/obese body mass index (BMI), based on food consumption logs. Food access measures for each zip code were computed from USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Yelp.com, and demographic, income and education measures were based on Census data. Genetic Matching-based approaches were used to create matched pairs of zip codes. RESULTS Access to grocery stores, non-fast food restaurants, income, and education were independently associated with healthier food consumption and lower prevalence of overweight/obese BMI levels. Substantial differences were observed between predominantly Black, Hispanic, and White zip codes. For instance, within predominantly Black zip codes we found that high income was associated with a decrease in healthful food consumption patterns across fresh fruits and vegetables and fast food. Further, high grocery access had a significantly larger association with increased fruit and vegetable consumption in predominantly Hispanic (7.4% increase) and Black (10.2% increase) zip codes in contrast to predominantly White zip codes (1.7% increase). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Policy targeted at improving access to grocery stores, access to non-fast food restaurants, income and education may significantly increase healthy eating, but interventions may need to be adapted to specific subpopulations for optimal effectiveness.

scholarly journals Associations between home and school neighbourhood food environments and adolescents’ fast-food and sugar-sweetened beverage intakes: findings from the Olympic Regeneration in East London (ORiEL) Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 2842-2851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Shareck ◽  
Daniel Lewis ◽  
Neil R Smith ◽  
Christelle Clary ◽  
Steven Cummins
Keyword(s):  
Risk Ratio ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Home School ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Sweetened Beverage ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Home And School ◽  
Relative Exposure

AbstractObjectiveTo examine associations between availability of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores in the home and school neighbourhoods, considered separately and together, and adolescents’ fast-food and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intakes.DesignCross-sectional observational study.SettingEast London, UK.SubjectsAdolescents (n3089; aged 13–15 years) from the Olympic Regeneration in East London (ORiEL) Study self-reported their weekly frequency of fast-food and SSB consumption. We used food business addresses collected from local authority registers to derive absolute (counts) and relative (proportions) exposure measures to fast-food restaurants and convenience stores within 800 m from home, school, and home and school combined. Associations between absolute and relative measures of the food environment and fast-food and SSB intakes were assessed using Poisson regression models with robust standard errors.ResultsAbsolute exposure to fast-food restaurants or convenience stores in the home, school, or combined home and school neighbourhoods was not associated with any of the outcomes. High SSB intake was associated with relative exposure to convenience stores in the residential neighbourhood (risk ratio=1·45; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·96) and in the home and school neighbourhoods combined (risk ratio=1·69; 95 % CI 1·11, 2·57).ConclusionsWe found no evidence of an association between absolute exposure to fast-food restaurants and convenience stores around home and school and adolescents’ fast-food and SSB intakes. Relative exposure, which measures the local diversity of the neighbourhood food environment, was positively associated with SSB intake. Relative measures of the food environment may better capture the environmental risks for poor diet than absolute measures.

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