Variation in supermarket exposure to energy-dense snack foods by socio-economic position

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the availability of energy-dense, nutrient-poor snack foods (and fruits and vegetables) in supermarkets located in socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Design: Cross-sectional supermarket audit. Setting: Melbourne, Australia. Measures included product shelf space and number of varieties for soft drinks, crisps, chocolate, confectionery and fruits and vegetables, as well as store size. Subjects: Thirty-five supermarkets (response 83 %) from neighbourhoods in the lowest and highest quintile of socio-economic disadvantage. Results: Shelf space allocated to soft drinks (23?6 m v. 17?7 m, P 5 0?006), crisps (16?5 m v. 13?0 m, P 5 0?016), chocolate (12?2 m v. 10?1 m, P 5 0?022) and confectionery (6?7 m v. 5?1 m, P 5 0?003) was greater in stores from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. After adjustment for store size (stores in disadvantaged areas being larger), shelf space for confectionery (6?3 m v. 5?6 m, P 5 0?024) and combined shelf space for all energy-dense foods and drinks (55?0 m v. 48?9 m, P 5 0?017) remained greater in stores from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The ratio of shelf space allocated to fruits and vegetables to that for energy-dense snack foods also varied by socio-economic disadvantage after adjustment for store size (most disadvantaged v. least disadvantaged: 1?7 v. 2?1, P 5 0?025). Varieties of fruits and vegetables and chocolate bars were more numerous in less disadvantaged areas (P , 0?05). Conclusions: Exposure to energy-dense snack foods and soft drinks in supermarkets was greater in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This may impact purchasing, consumption and cultural norms related to eating behaviours and may therefore work against elimination of the known socioeconomic gradient in obesity levels. Reform of supermarket stocking practices may represent an effective means of obesity prevention.

Is neighbourhood obesogenicity associated with body mass index in women? Application of an obesogenicity index in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods

“…First, the individual items themselves have complex associations with obesity. For example, supermarkets can be sources not only of fruits and vegetables but also of empty calorie foods (Cameron et al, 2013). Presence of a gym or pool also does not guarantee its availability as a resource if it is open only to private members.…”

Social Determinants of Risk and Outcomes for Cardiovascular Disease

“…Modification of supermarket stocking practices may similarly represent an effective means of obesity prevention. 266 Future studies are needed to further investigate longitudinal associations among neighborhood characteristics, health behaviors, and CVD risk. Those studies will need to take into consideration cumulative exposure to neighborhood characteristics over extended periods of time because cross-sectional studies provide a very limited understanding of risk increase (eg, increased body fat) over time.…”

Discretionary food and beverage consumption and its association with demographic characteristics, weight status, and fruit and vegetable intakes in Australian adults

“…In the present study, data obtained from 7873 adults (19 years or above) with at least one 24 h dietary recall and weight and height measured were used for analyses, with the results weighted to reflect the Australian population (5)(6)(7) . Age groups were based on the NNPAS age categories (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50), 51-70 and 70+ years) and socio-economic quintiles were based on the Socio-Economic Index of Disadvantage for Areas (SEIFA), where the first SEIFA quintile indicates the most disadvantaged areas (5) . Country of birth was classified according to whether the respondents were born in Australia, English-speaking countries, or others.…”