The Relationship Between Perceptions of the Food Retail Environment and Health
Creators: name: Dubal, Milap
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2014

description: As literature of the factors contributing to obesity continue to increase, it is critical to take a closer look at the role of the environment, and specifically the food retail environment. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to analyze the relationship between perceptions of the food retail environment and food-seeking behavior and health. In conducting our review, we searched the MEDLINE database for relevant research and found nine papers to include in the review. Our analysis of the current literature showed mixed results of the relationship between perceptions of the food retail environment and health and food-seeking behavior. The mixed results were likely due to large differences among the studies in the measures used to assess perceptions and outcomes. Because some studies did show significant associations, we conclude that at least some perceptions can indeed affect food-seeking behavior and health. Unfortunately, the current literature does clearly describe the relationship. In order to better understand this relationship, it will be important for future studies to use standardized measures to assess perceptions and outcomes. Most of the papers included in our review analyzed the relationship between perceptions and food-seeking behavior. Every paper we found used secondary data to analyze the relationships. The lack of studies conducted with primary data on the relationship between perceptions of the food retail environment and weight status lead to our original research study. In this study, we aimed to identify and determine the extent of influence that perceived indicators of the food retail environment can have on obesity and body mass index (BMI). We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered internet-based survey that we designed. The survey collected information about perceptions of the food retail environment and demographic information. BMI and obesity status was calculated using self-reported height and weight from the survey items. The study sample consisted of employees and students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 191 survey respondent were included in our final analysis of the data. We assessed the relationship between perceptions and weight status using linear and logistic regression models. The models were adjusted for the sociodemographic variables race, age, sex, income and education. In our analysis of perceptions of neighborhood characteristics and weight status, no relationship was found. However, we did find significant associations between perceptions of food product characteristics and weight status. Availability of a variety of fruits and vegetables and high quality of fruits and vegetables were associated with the decreased odds of being obese and with having a lower BMI. Perceiving that food at respondents' primary food store was rotten was associated with higher BMI. Lastly, Availability of low-fat dairy products was associated with lower odds of being obese. The systematic review and original research paper add to the current literature of association between the food retail environment and obesity. Increased knowledge of the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic will help to reverse the trend of growing obesity rates.