Is the Distance to Supermarkets Related to Childhood Obesity?

Open Access
- Author:
- Priem, Emily Jean
- Area of Honors:
- Biobehavioral Health
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dr. Lori Anne Francis, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Lori Anne Francis, Thesis Honors Advisor
Linda Ann Wray, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- childhood obesity
supermarkets
food deserts
Food Environmental Atlas - Abstract:
- Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the distance to supermarkets/large grocery stores and childhood obesity rates, particularly in low-income, preschool-aged children. Areas where people do not have easy access to healthy, fresh foods, which are defined as food deserts, were of particular interest in this study. The study also examined how different types of food stores impacted obesity rates in this particular population of children. Methods: Data were drawn from a nationally compiled obesity surveillance dataset (Food Environmental Atlas), obtained at the state and local level for low-income, preschool aged children (n=2,222,410). Distance was measured from the center of 1-kilometer grids to the nearest supermarket for the entire U.S. population and median distances to the nearest supermarket were calculated for the nation as a whole and across different sub-regions. Counties were broken down as being either metro or non-metro. Obesity was measured using the child’s height and weight to calculate sex-and-age specific body mass index (BMI). Results: Distance to supermarkets alone was not associated with obesity rates in low-income, preschool-aged children in metro or non-metro counties. When other factors such as types of food stores (i.e. grocery stores, convenience stores, fast food restaurants) were included in the analysis, the distance to supermarkets still was not significantly associated with obesity rates in low-income, preschool-aged children in metro or non-metro counties. Conclusions: These findings suggest that children who live in food deserts have limited access to large grocery stores and supermarkets, however the results do not suggest that food deserts in metro and non-metro counties are associated. Future research needs to focus on ways to provide individuals who live in food deserts with better access to fresh and healthy foods at affordable prices.