Differences in Food Environment Perceptions and Spatial Attributes of Food Shopping Between Residents of Low and High Food Access Areas

Abstract

Objective To explore potential differences in food shopping behaviors and healthy food availability perceptions between residents living in areas with low and high food access. Design A cross-sectional telephone survey to assess food shopping behaviors and perceptions. Data from an eight-county food environment field census used to define the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) healthier food retail tract and USDA ERS (United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service) food desert measure. Participants 968 residents in eight South Carolina counties. Main Outcome Measures Residents’ food shopping behaviors and healthy food availability perceptions. Analysis Linear and logistic regression. Results Compared to residents in high food access areas, residents in low food access areas traveled further to their primary food store (USDA ERS: 8.8 vs. 7.1 miles, p=0.03; CDC: 9.2 vs. 6.1 miles, p<0.001), accumulated more total shopping miles per week; CDC 28.0 vs. 15.4 miles, p<0.001) and showed differences in perceived healthy food availability (p<0.001) and shopping access (p<0.001). Conclusions and Implications These findings lend support to ongoing community and policy interventions aimed at reducing food access disparities.

The Association between Food Security and Store-Specific and Overall Food Shopping Behaviors

“…Among those who shopped at non-supermarkets/supercenters, 1–9% (data not shown) shopped at the nearest non-supermarket/supercenter. This finding is consistent with previous studies showing that participants rarely shop at the closest supermarket or other food outlet 4,7,14,15,27,29,31 , especially among low-income families 4,14 and residents of food deserts 26 . Thus, there is now a body of evidence, including the present study, indicating that it is critical to assess the actual shopping distance to each participant’s utilized store(s) rather than relying on distance to the closest food store based on an overlay of food store location maps with residential addresses (without knowledge of store utilization).…”

“…An additional consideration is that the majority of studies on food shopping (unrelated to food security) have focused on a single store only, either the primarily utilized or the nearest store 5,12–15,19,26–31 . Thus, studies rarely capture the entire range of food shopping in a specified time period or assess shopping at multiple stores.…”

Symposium report: the prevention of obesity and NCDs: challenges and opportunities for governments

“…Furthermore, food‐related selection behaviour is influenced by subconscious, precognitive stimuli , so that the provision of information about healthy choices may be ineffective if there is no change to these primary stimuli. The provision of information about healthy choices is less effective for individuals who have difficulty gaining access to the means to achieve healthy behaviour – such as locally available low‐cost fruit and vegetable supplies, or local, safe recreation facilities . Health education strategies will also need to be complemented with practical measures to support health behaviour in order to avoid a widening of inequalities in health outcomes.…”

Reconsidering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as Community Development

“…20,[50][51][52][53] These smaller studies illustrate that consumer preference motivates consumers to travel past closer, yet smaller, stores in favor of supermarkets. For those without access to a personal vehicle, compensatory actions include arranging rides with friends or family, taking cabs, or riding public transit to access larger retailers beyond low-access neighborhoods.…”