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A Picture of the Healthful Food Environment in Two Diverse Urban Cities

Authors :
Rebecca E. Lee
Katie M. Heinrich
Ashley V. Medina
Gail R. Regan
Jacqueline Y. Reese-Smith
Yuka Jokura
Jay E. Maddock
Source :
Environmental Health Insights, Vol 2010, Iss 4, Pp 49-60 (2010)
Publication Year :
2010
Publisher :
SAGE Publishing, 2010.

Abstract

Background: Local food environments influence fresh produce purchase and consumption, and previous research has found disparities in local food environments by income and ethnicity. Other existing studies have begun to quantify the distribution of food sources, but there has been limited attention to important features or types of healthful food that are available or their quality or cost. Two studies assessed the type, quantity, quality and cost of healthful food from two diverse urban cities, Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri and Honolulu, Hawaii, and evaluated differences by neighborhood income and ethnic composition. Method: A total of 343 food stores in urban neighborhoods were assessed using the one-page Understanding Neighborhood Determinants of Obesity (UNDO) Food Stores Assessment (FSA) measuring healthful foods. US Census data were used to define median household income and ethnic minority concentration. Results: In Study 1, most low socioeconomic status (SES), high ethnic minority neighborhoods had primarily convenience, liquor or small grocery stores. Quality of produce was typically lower, and prices of some foods were more than in comparison neighborhoods. In Study 2, low SES neighborhoods had more convenience and grocery stores. Farmers’ markets and supermarkets had the best produce availability and quality, and farmers’ markets and pharmacies had the lowest prices. Conclusions: Messages emphasizing eating more fruits and vegetables are not realistic in urban, low SES, high ethnic concentration neighborhoods. Farmers’ markets and supermarkets provided the best opportunities for fresh produce. Increasing access to farmers’ markets and supermarkets or reducing prices could improve the local food environment.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
11786302
Volume :
2010
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Environmental Health Insights
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8e7736895c5a4da4a6e8d4a11a76f8b9
Document Type :
article