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Is Living near Healthier Food Stores Associated with Better Food Intake in Regional Australia?

Author

Listed:
  • Hamid Moayyed

    (School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Bridget Kelly

    (Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Xiaoqi Feng

    (School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Victoria Flood

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
    Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia)

Abstract

High prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases is a global public health problem, in which the quality of food environments is thought to play an important role. Current scientific evidence is not consistent regarding the impact of food environments on diet. The relationship between local food environments and diet quality was assessed across 10 Australian suburbs, using Australian-based indices devised to measure the two parameters. Data of dietary habits from the participants was gathered using a short questionnaire. The suburbs’ Food Environment Score (higher being healthier) was associated with higher consumption of fruit (χ 2 (40, 230) = 58.8, p = 0.04), and vegetables (χ 2 (40, 230) = 81.3, p = 0.03). The Food Environment Score identified a significant positive correlation with four of the diet scores: individual total diet score (r s = 0.30, p < 0.01), fruit and vegetable score (r s = 0.43, p < 0.01), sugary drink score (r s = 0.13, p < 0.05), and discretionary food score (r s = 0.15, p < 0.05). Moreover, the suburbs’ RFEI (Retail Food Environment Index, higher being unhealthier) showed a significant association with higher consumption of salty snacks (χ 2 (24, 230) = 43.9, p = 0.04). Food environments dominated by food outlets considered as ‘healthier’ were associated with healthier population food intakes, as indicated by a higher consumption of fruit, vegetables, and water, as well as a lower consumption of junk food, salty snacks, and sugary drinks. This association suggests that healthier diet quality is associated with healthier food environments in regional Australia.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamid Moayyed & Bridget Kelly & Xiaoqi Feng & Victoria Flood, 2017. "Is Living near Healthier Food Stores Associated with Better Food Intake in Regional Australia?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:8:p:884-:d:107243
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    Cited by:

    1. Huong Ngoc Quynh Tran & Emma McMahon & Marj Moodie & Jaithri Ananthapavan, 2021. "A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations of Health-Promoting Food Retail-Based Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Ryan Storr & Julia Carins & Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, 2019. "Assessing Support for Advantaged and Disadvantaged Groups: A Comparison of Urban Food Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-10, March.
    3. Penelope Love & Jillian Whelan & Colin Bell & Jane McCracken, 2019. "Measuring Rural Food Environments for Local Action in Australia: A Systematic Critical Synthesis Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Bailey Glover & Liang Mao & Yujie Hu & Jiawen Zhang, 2022. "Enhancing the Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) with Neighborhood Commuting Patterns: A Hybrid Human−Environment Measure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Cindy Needham & Liliana Orellana & Steven Allender & Gary Sacks & Miranda R. Blake & Claudia Strugnell, 2020. "Food Retail Environments in Greater Melbourne 2008–2016: Longitudinal Analysis of Intra-City Variation in Density and Healthiness of Food Outlets," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Man Zhang & Wen Guo & Na Zhang & Hairong He & Yu Zhang & Mingzhu Zhou & Jianfen Zhang & Muxia Li & Guansheng Ma, 2020. "Association between Neighborhood Food Environment and Body Mass Index among Older Adults in Beijing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Virginia Vettori & Chiara Lorini & Chiara Milani & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, 2019. "Towards the Implementation of a Conceptual Framework of Food and Nutrition Literacy: Providing Healthy Eating for the Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-21, December.
    8. Maureen Murphy & Hannah Badland & Helen Jordan & Mohammad Javad Koohsari & Billie Giles-Corti, 2018. "Local Food Environments, Suburban Development, and BMI: A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, July.
    9. Catherine Dumont & Lucy M. Butcher & Frances Foulkes-Taylor & Anna Bird & Andrea Begley, 2021. "Effectiveness of Foodbank Western Australia’s Food Sensations ® for Adults Food Literacy Program in Regional Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.

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