title: Food expenditures and food purchasing among low-income, urban, African-American youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-income, urban African-American youth are at higher risk for obesity and less likely to meet dietary recommendations than white, higher-income youth. Patterns of food purchasing among youth likely contribute to these disparities, but little published information is available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate food purchasing behaviors of low-income, urban African-American youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 242 African-American youth, aged 10-14 years, were recruited from 14 recreation centers in low-income, predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Baltimore MD. Youth reported the amount of money typically spent on food, the source of this money, the place of purchase, and frequency of purchase for 29 foods and beverages. Data were collected in 2008-2009 and analyzed in 2009-2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youth reported spending an average of $3.96 on foods and beverages in a typical day. Corner stores were the most frequently visited food source (youth made purchases at these stores an average of 2.0 times per week). Chips, candy, and soda were the most commonly purchased items, with youth purchasing these an average of 2.5, 1.8, and 1.4 times per week, respectively. Older age was associated with more money spent on food in a typical day (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food purchasing among low-income, urban African-American youth is frequent and substantial. Interventions aimed at preventing and treating obesity in this population should focus on increasing access to healthy foods in their neighborhoods, especially in corner stores.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 6156 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dennisuk
authors.forename: Anastasia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Sonali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suratkar
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Surkan
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Jean A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anliker
authors.forename: Sangita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015142:Baltimore; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food / Q000191:economics*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011203:Poverty; D014505:Urban Population