title: Multiple pathways from the neighborhood food environment to increased body mass index through dietary behaviors: A structural equation-based analysis in the CARDIA study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine longitudinal pathways from multiple types of neighborhood restaurants and food stores to BMI, through dietary behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from participants (n=5114) in the United States-based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study and a structural equation model to estimate longitudinal (1985-86 to 2005-06) pathways simultaneously from neighborhood fast food restaurants, sit-down restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores to BMI through dietary behaviors, controlling for socioeconomic status (SES) and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants and lower numbers of sit-down restaurants were associated with higher consumption of an obesogenic fast food-type diet. The pathways from food stores to BMI through diet were inconsistent in magnitude and statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to decrease the numbers of neighborhood fast food restaurants and to increase the numbers of sit-down restaurant options could influence diet behaviors. Availability of neighborhood fast food and sit-down restaurants may play comparatively stronger roles than food stores in shaping dietary behaviors and BMI.
authors.affiliation: RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health & School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA.
authors.forename: Katie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA.
authors.forename: Annie Green
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boone-Heinonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health & School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA; Carolina Population Center, 137 East Franklin Street, Campus Box 8120, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA.
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Popkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA; UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Evenson
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shikany
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Cora E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health & School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA; Carolina Population Center, 137 East Franklin Street, Campus Box 8120, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gordon-Larsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D057140:Fast Foods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012147:Restaurants / Q000145:classification; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body mass index; Diet; Geographic information systems; Longitudinal study; Neighborhood food environment; Structural equation model