Is a reduction in distance to nearest supermarket associated with BMI change among type 2 diabetes patients?

Abstract

We examined whether residing within 2 miles of a new supermarket opening was longitudinally associated with a change in body mass index (BMI). We identified 12 new supermarkets that opened between 2009–2010 in 8 neighborhoods. Using the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Diabetes Registry, we identified members with type 2 diabetes residing continuously in any of these neighborhoods 12 months prior to the first supermarket opening until 10 months following the opening of the last supermarket. Exposure was defined as a reduction (yes/no) in travel distance to the nearest supermarket as a result of a new supermarket opening. First difference regression models were used to estimate the impact of reduced supermarket distance on BMI, adjusting for longitudinal changes in patient and neighborhood characteristics. Among patients in the exposed group, new supermarket openings reduced travel distance to the nearest supermarket by 0.7 miles on average. However, reduced distance to nearest supermarket was not associated with BMI changes. Overall, we found no evidence that reduced supermarket distance was associated with reduced levels of obesity for residents with type 2 diabetes.

Food Insecurity, Food “Deserts,” and Glycemic Control in Patients With Diabetes: A Longitudinal Analysis

“…One study in the San Francisco Bay Area found that losing or gaining a supermarket in a neighborhood was not associated with meaningful change in HbA 1c (30). Prior studies of BMI and neighborhood food access in patients with diabetes also have generally not found an important association (31)(32)(33). We also think it is important to note that our findings regarding who resides in areas of low physical food access do not correlate well with common perceptions of who lives in these areas, as we found fewer racial/ethnic minorities and higher educational attainment in these areas.…”

The relationship between food insecurity and overweight/obesity differs by birthplace and length of US residence

“…(33,34) However, experimental studies with control groups have found that supermarket access is not significantly associated with diet or weight status. (35–37) Marketing incentives for low-cost, energy-dense foods are particularly damaging to groups of low socioeconomic status (30) ; this may in turn influence food insecure immigrant women with longer US stays to replace healthier diets for energy-dense, nutrient poor foods that represent a source of affordable calories. In contrast, recent immigrant women may escape the influence of such incentives, as they may hold onto purchasing behaviors from countries of origin or because they may not be as exposed to heavy food advertising and marketing in the US as the general population (38) .…”

Immigrants as Transformers: The Case for Immigrant Food Enterprises and Community Revitalization

“…Most public health scholarship that informs public policy and interventions undermines the value of small-scale food stores in healthy food provision, largely because of an overemphasis on supermarkets as the prime outlet for healthy foods (Zhang et al 2016;Gordon et al 2011). However, the mixed results of recent supermarket interventions to promote positive diet-related health outcomes have pushed public health scholars to consider the diverse ways that individuals procure food besides shopping at national chain supermarkets (Dubowitz et al 2015;Cummins, Flint, and Matthews 2014).…”