The contextual effect of the local food environment on residents' diets: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study

Am J Public Health. 2002 Nov;92(11):1761-7. doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.11.1761.

Abstract

Objectives: We studied the association between the local food environment and residents' report of recommended dietary intake.

Methods: Recommended intakes of foods and nutrients for 10 623 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants were estimated from food frequency questionnaires. Supermarkets, grocery stores, and full-service and fast-food restaurants were geocoded to census tracts.

Results: Black Americans' fruit and vegetable intake increased by 32% for each additional supermarket in the census tract (relative risk [RR] = 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 1.60). White Americans' fruit and vegetable intake increased by 11% with the presence of 1 or more supermarket (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.93, 1.32).

Conclusions: These findings suggest the local food environment is associated with residents' recommended diets.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arteriosclerosis / ethnology*
  • Arteriosclerosis / etiology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Censuses
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / adverse effects
  • Commerce / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diet / adverse effects
  • Diet / classification*
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects
  • Dietary Fats / classification
  • Eating
  • Female
  • Food Supply* / economics
  • Food Supply* / standards
  • Fruit
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty Areas
  • Residence Characteristics*
  • Restaurants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Social Conditions
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vegetables
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Dietary Fats