The local food environment and diet: a systematic review

Health Place. 2012 Sep;18(5):1172-87. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.05.006. Epub 2012 May 31.

Abstract

Despite growing attention to the problem of obesogenic environments, there has not been a comprehensive review evaluating the food environment-diet relationship. This study aims to evaluate this relationship in the current literature, focusing specifically on the method of exposure assessment (GIS, survey, or store audit). This study also explores 5 dimensions of "food access" (availability, accessibility, affordability, accommodation, acceptability) using a conceptual definition proposed by Penchansky and Thomas (1981). Articles were retrieved through a systematic keyword search in Web of Science and supplemented by the reference lists of included studies. Thirty-eight studies were reviewed and categorized by the exposure assessment method and the conceptual dimensions of access it captured. GIS-based measures were the most common measures, but were less consistently associated with diet than other measures. Few studies examined dimensions of affordability, accommodation, and acceptability. Because GIS-based measures on their own may not capture important non-geographic dimensions of access, a set of recommendations for future researchers is outlined.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diet*
  • Female
  • Food Supply*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged