Neighborhood retail food environment and fruit and vegetable intake in a multiethnic urban population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine relationships between the neighborhood food environment and fruit and vegetable intake in a multiethnic urban population.


METHODS
Analysis of cross-sectional survey and observational data.


METHODS
One hundred forty-six neighborhoods within three large geographic communities of Detroit, Michigan.


METHODS
Probability sample of 919 African-American, Latino, and white adults.


METHODS
The dependent variable was mean daily fruit and vegetable servings, as measured by using a modified Block 98 food frequency questionnaire. Independent variables included the neighborhood food environment: store availability (i.e., large grocery, specialty, convenience, liquor, small grocery), supermarket proximity (i.e., street-network distance to nearest chain grocer), and perceived and observed neighborhood fresh fruit and vegetable supply (i.e., availability, variety, quality, affordability).


METHODS
Weighted, multilevel regression.


RESULTS
Presence of a large grocery store in the neighborhood was associated with, on average, 0.69 more daily fruit and vegetable servings in the full sample. Relationships between the food environment and fruit and vegetable intake did not differ between whites and African-Americans. However, Latinos, compared with African-Americans, who had a large grocery store in the neighborhood consumed 2.20 more daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Presence of a convenience store in the neighborhood was associated with 1.84 fewer daily fruit and vegetable servings among Latinos than among African-Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
The neighborhood food environment influences fruit and vegetable intake, and the size of this relationship may vary for different racial/ethnic subpopulations.
Zenk
Shannon N
SN
Department of Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. szenk@uic.edu
Lachance
Laurie L
LL
Schulz
Amy J
AJ
Mentz
Graciela
G
Kannan
Srimathi
S
Ridella
William
W
D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014675:Vegetables