Availability of More Healthful Food Alternatives in Traditional, Convenience, and Nontraditional Types of Food Stores in Two Rural Texas Counties

Assessment of cancer risk in two rural West Texas communities using anthropometrics, diet, and physical activity

“…People in rural areas may have greater health disparities due to limited access to facilities of primary health care and limited access to healthy foods and physical activity options [4,16]. Over 38% of the participants in this study were Hispanic, and they had a higher combined prevalence of overweight and obesity (84%) compared to 78.7% for whites.…”

“…However, very little research has been conducted to understand the risk profile of those residing in rural communities to identify factors that may lead to cancer risk, and to identify intervention strategies to reduce these risks. The reasons why there may be a higher prevalence of obesity in rural areas is unclear, but challenges such as fewer prevention and treatment facilities, the distances needed to travel to reach them, limited access to grocery stores and healthier food alternatives, limited access to physical activity options, and cultural challenges may put people living in these areas at higher risks [2,4].…”

Global growth of “big box” stores and the potential impact on human health and nutrition

“…A study conducted by Bustillos et al 34 in 2006 found that in 2 rural counties in Texas, the food available in mass merchandisers may be less healthful than that available in grocery stores or supermarkets. The study also found that mass merchandisers offered healthful food items, including canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat and fish, milk, and grains, and offered a greater variety of healthful packaged options, including canned tuna and poultry, reduced-fat and skimmed milk, and low-fat tortillas than did traditional food stores like supermarkets.…”

Storing Empty Calories and Chronic Disease Risk: Snack-Food Products, Nutritive Content, and Manufacturers in Philadelphia Corner Stores

“…These studies looked mainly at indicator foods (e.g., specific vegetables, wholegrain products, or low-fat dairy items as markers of healthful food inventory), 50,[59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] or used food checklists or indices. [56][57][58][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85] However, no prior studies have looked more comprehensively at food offerings, and none have provided a detailed description of snack food inventories in corner stores despite evidence that children purchase and consume unhealthy snacks from corner stores, 55,87 and corner stores provide a substantial number of total daily calories for young people. 88 Prior research has also not directly addressed the nutritional content of corner store snack foods, nor where these food come from.…”