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Local Food Environments, Suburban Development, and BMI: A Mixed Methods Study

Author

Listed:
  • Maureen Murphy

    (Centre for Health Equity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Hannah Badland

    (Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Helen Jordan

    (Centre for Health Policy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Mohammad Javad Koohsari

    (Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
    Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
    Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Billie Giles-Corti

    (Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

Abstract

More than half the world’s population now live in urban settlements. Worldwide, cities are expanding at their fringe to accommodate population growth. Low-density residential development, urban sprawl, and car dependency are common, contributing to physical inactivity and obesity. However, urban design and planning can modify urban form and enhance health by improving access to healthy food, public transport, and services. This study used a sequential mixed methods approach to investigate associations between food outlet access and body mass index (BMI) across urban-growth and established areas of Melbourne, Australia, and identify factors that influence local food environments. Population survey data for 3141 adults were analyzed to examine associations, and 27 interviews with government, non-government, and private sector stakeholders were conducted to contextualize results. Fast food density was positively associated with BMI in established areas and negatively associated in urban-growth areas. Interrelated challenges of car dependency, poor public transport, and low-density development hampered healthy food access. This study showed how patterns of suburban development influence local food environments and health outcomes in an urbanized city context and provides insights for other rapidly growing cities. More nuanced understandings of the differential effect of food environments within cities have potential to guide intra-city planning for improving health and reducing inequities.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1392-:d:155815
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Peter Congdon, 2019. "Obesity and Urban Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-6, February.
    3. Souza Oliveira, Juliana & Cristina Egito de Menezes, Risia & Almendra, Ricardo & Israel Cabral de Lira, Pedro & Barbosa de Aquino, Nathália & Paula de Souza, Nathália & Santana, Paula, 2022. "Unhealthy food environments that promote overweight and food insecurity in a brazilian metropolitan area: A case of a syndemic?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    4. Julia Díez & Alba Cebrecos & Iñaki Galán & Hugo Pérez-Freixo & Manuel Franco & Usama Bilal, 2019. "Assessing the Retail Food Environment in Madrid: An Evaluation of Administrative Data against Ground Truthing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-12, September.

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