title: Food availability as a determinant of weight gain among renal transplant recipients.
abstract: Excessive weight gain is common after renal transplantation, but it is unknown whether environmental factors, such as food availability, contribute to this important clinical problem. We evaluated the effects of food availability (fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery stores within 1, 2, and 3 mile buffers of transplant recipients' residences) on body mass index (BMI) change during the first year post-transplant. Participants (n = 299) resided in Memphis, Tennessee. BMI increased by 1.42 units (p < .001) corresponding to an average weight gain of 9.25 lbs (5.43%) during the first year post-transplant. The number of grocery stores within 1 mile of recipient's residence was associated with an increase in BMI (p < .05), but fast food restaurants and convenience stores were not significantly associated with BMI change.
authors.affiliation: PhD Student and Graduate Assistant, Department of Health Services Administration, University of Maryland, 1222 School of Public Health Building, College Park, MD, 20742; School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN; College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN.
authors.forename: Robin F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bloodworth
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Relyea
authors.forename: Ann K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cashion
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013714:Tennessee; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: BMI; food availability; obesity; post-transplant weight gain; renal transplant