title: Place and food insecurity: a critical review and synthesis of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In some high-income countries, a sizeable proportion of households are estimated to be food insecure. It is well known that food insecurity varies between countries and is strongly tied to household income level. The local environment may be another level of influence, which has been relatively understudied. The present review sought to synthesize and critically appraise the existing literature examining local environmental characteristics in relation to individual/household-level food insecurity in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search strategy was used to search MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-process and Other Non-indexed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Social Services Abstracts and Sociological Abstracts databases for studies examining local place characteristic(s) in relation to self-reported food insecurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies could be experimental or observational, but had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal in French or English, and involve individuals from developed countries. 'Place' was defined locally, as ranging from the street to the county level.
  
  
  METHODS
  The target population for the review included non-institutionalized individuals in the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After obtaining full-text articles, eighteen primary studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies were conducted in the USA and all but one was cross-sectional. Seven of the eleven studies that examined location of residence found that rural living was inversely associated with food insecurity. Mixed results were seen for other place measures such as social capital and distance to food stores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies were heterogeneous and had various limitations that preclude definitive conclusions from being drawn. Recommendations for future research are provided.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart Street, Room 302, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Megan Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, 1 Stewart Street, Room 302, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: 3 Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tremblay
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D012424:Rural Population; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
references.citation: J Nutr. 1990 Nov;120 Suppl 11(suppl_11):1544-8
references.pmid: 2243303
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2011 Mar;12(3):217-30
references.pmid: 20202135
references.citation: Nutr Rev. 2010 Jan;68(1):1-29
references.pmid: 20041997
references.citation: J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jan;21(1):71-7
references.pmid: 16423128
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2005 Nov;61(9):1971-82
references.pmid: 15927331
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2010 Jul;13(7):1139-48
references.pmid: 20196916
references.citation: Science. 2010 Feb 12;327(5967):825-8
references.pmid: 20150491
references.citation: Int J Equity Health. 2011 May 13;10:19
references.pmid: 21569496
references.citation: Am J Prev Med. 2011 Feb;40(2):166-73
references.pmid: 21238865
references.citation: J Nutr. 2011 Mar;141(3):470-5
references.pmid: 21228262
references.citation: Ann Epidemiol. 2010 May;20(5):364-70
references.pmid: 20382337
references.citation: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2012 Jun;66(6):e6
references.pmid: 21652519
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 1997 Dec;87(12):1956-61
references.pmid: 9431283
references.citation: J Urban Health. 2012 Jun;89(3):407-18
references.pmid: 22160446
references.citation: Can J Public Health. 2009 Sep-Oct;100(5):361-4
references.pmid: 19994739
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2011 May;12(5):e73-83
references.pmid: 21382151
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2009 Nov;12(11):2044-50
references.pmid: 19243676
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Dec;78(6):1120-7
references.pmid: 14668273
references.citation: J Nutr. 2008 Mar;138(3):604-12
references.pmid: 18287374
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2001 Mar;56(2):S94-9
references.pmid: 11245369
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2002 Dec;5(6A):859-64
references.pmid: 12633509
references.citation: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005 Jan;159(1):51-6
references.pmid: 15630058
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2002 Jan;54(1):119-32
references.pmid: 11820676
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2001 Jul;108(1):44-53
references.pmid: 11433053
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2004 Jun;58(12):2645-54
references.pmid: 15081212
references.citation: J Nutr. 1999 Feb;129(2S Suppl):517S-520S
references.pmid: 10064321
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2007 Nov;65(9):1825-38
references.pmid: 17706331
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2006 Apr;9(2):219-24
references.pmid: 16571176
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2010 Feb;13(2):215-21
references.pmid: 19706209
references.citation: J Nutr. 1990 Nov;120 Suppl 11:1559-600
references.pmid: 2243305
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Apr 15;167(8):917-24
references.pmid: 18304960
references.citation: J Nutr. 2010 Feb;140(2):304-10
references.pmid: 20032485
references.citation: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010 May;49(5):444-52
references.pmid: 20431464
references.citation: Aust N Z J Public Health. 1997 Jun;21(3):303-10
references.pmid: 9270158
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 1999 Aug;89(8):1231-4
references.pmid: 10432912
references.citation: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Aug;164(8):754-62
references.pmid: 20679167
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2011 May;72(9):1454-62
references.pmid: 21497429
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2002 Jul;55(1):125-39
references.pmid: 12137182
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2007 Jun;10(6):566-73
references.pmid: 17381908
references.citation: Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Jul;6(3):A105
references.pmid: 19527577