Progress 10/01/08 to 06/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Food store audits surveys were completed for 100 food stores covering supermarkets, convenience stores, gas and convenience combo stores, and other smaller stores, including ethnic (African, Mexican and Asian) stores in Guilford County. A database of food availability and prices was created for Guilford County. One master of science in agricultural economics thesis was completed, the using the food store survey data. Furthermore, two students, one undergraduate and one graduate student, were trained in survey data collection, conducting field surveys, and inputting data. Students and the research team were introduced to GIS applications in food studies. Researchers gained experience using multilevel analytical approaches to food studies, which is an area being promoted by the National Institutes for Health. Project results were presented at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting in Corpus Christie in February, 2011, and at the N.C. A&T Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education seminars. One abstract was submitted to the SAEA Annual Meeting in 2012. Two abstracts were submitted for the Effects of Context on Food Choice conference jointly organized by AAEA and EAAE. The conference will take place May 30-31, 2012 at Tufts University in Boston. PARTICIPANTS: Kofi Adu-Nyako, Ralph Okafor, Tim Foster. Student trainees Ishmael Mintah, Guy Mavoungou. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Findings from our studies have increased knowledge regarding the impact of the food environment on healthy food consumption. This knowledge could be used in raising awareness about availability and affordability issues regarding healthy options in Guilford County. Furthermore this information serves as a fact informing public debate and policy responses in intervention planning. In general, results indicate that significant differences in availability and affordability of fruits and vegetables were found between supermarkets and grocery stores, supermarkets and convenience stores, and grocery stores and convenience stores. Convenience stores were least likely to stock fresh vegetables than grocery stores. Furthermore, convenience stores recorded zero availability for most canned and frozen vegetables. Regarding prices, fruit prices tend to be similar and lower in supermarkets and grocery stores, but different and higher in convenience stores. Among vegetables, only two items, spaghetti sauce and tomato sauces were there significant price differences between store types. The significant price differences were recorded between supermarket and convenience stores for spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce, and between grocery stores and convenience stores for tomato sauce. The results of the comparison of availability of dairy products in the three store types indicates significant differences in availability between supermarket and grocery stores, supermarket and convenience stores, and grocery stores and convenience stores. Whereas supermarkets had 100% availability for 1% milk, (healthy option), half of the grocery and convenience stores carried this food item. On the contrary, availability of whole milk (less healthy) increased to 75% in grocery stores, and 87% in convenience stores. The healthier whole wheat bread was less easily available in all store types. However, supermarkets were significantly more likely to carry whole wheat bread compared to convenience and grocery stores respectively, ranging from a high of 67% in supermarkets, followed by 61% in convenience stores, and less than 55% in grocery stores. White breads were more commonly stocked by all store types, and there were no statistical differences in the availability of enriched white bread between supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores. Findings from the multilevel study of North Carolina food environment show that fruit and vegetable consumption is associated positively with increased availability of supermarkets and full service eating places, and negatively with fast food eating places. These findings from this study would seem to reinforce the notion that the existence of 'food deserts' in certain counties may be exacerbating the obesity problem by limiting access to healthful foods. Community and public policy interventions directed at improving food outlets conducive to increasing access to fruits and vegetables may be necessary to attenuate the high rates of overweight and obesity.
Publications
- K. Adu-Nyako, and R. Okafor. 2011. "Community Food Store Types Availability is Associated with Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in North Carolina."
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data analysis and report preparation with the food stores survey continued. One graduate student is developing his thesis for the Masters of Science in Agricultural Economics with the food store survey data. Furthermore two students, one undergraduate and a graduate student were trained in survey data collection, conducting field surveys, and inputting data. Food store surveys of food availability and prices in Greensboro, and surrounding areas was collected. Concurrent to the ground truthing food store surveys study, we undertook a study of the impact of retail food environment on food consumption in North Carolina. Secondary data were assembled from two sources; 2006 U. S. Census Bureau, County Business Pattern, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Information on the number of food store outlets by type according to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), including supermarkets, convenience stores and convenience stores with gas stations, for North Carolina were obtained from the County Business Pattern of the U.S. Census Bureau. Individual data including fruit and vegetable consumption, and socioeconomic information- age, income, education, employment, race, gender and physical activity were obtained from the BRFSS. Data on food stores were linked through county codes to individual data from the BRFSS applying multilevel modeling approaches. A database of food availability and prices was created for Guilford County. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Findings from our studies increase knowledge regarding the impact of the food environment on healthy food consumption, and weight outcomes. The work of this project was recognized by the Get Healthy Guilford coalition for outstanding research award with the citation "...of a research project that contributed to our understanding of obesity, nutrition, exercise and approaches to reducing obesity." The preliminary results of the food store survey show availability of fruits and vegetables are more common in supermarkets than they are in grocery stores and convenience stores in the Triad area of NC, where this study took place. However, there does not seem to be any significant differences in food availability in stores located in low income versus higher income areas in Guilford County. Findings from the multilevel study of North Carolina food environment show that fruit and vegetable consumption is associated positively with increased availability of supermarkets and full service eating places, and negatively with fast food eating places. Availability of gas and convenience type food store outlets was not significantly associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings from this study would seem to reinforce the notion that the existence of 'food deserts' in certain counties may be exacerbating the obesity problem by limiting access to healthful foods. Community and public policy interventions directed at improving food outlets conducive to increasing access to fruits and vegetables may be necessary to attenuate the high rates of overweight and obesity.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Food store surveys of food availability and prices covering stores in Greensboro, and surrounding areas was collected. Data cleaning and data entry were accomplished by the first half of the year. Preliminary data analysis was done to assess whether differences existed in prices and availability of foods between supermarket, grocery stores, and convenience stores. Most of the summer was devoted to mentoring, advising, and producing research poster for a high school research apprentice. A poster presentation titled: "Links between obesity and consumption of fruits and vegetables" was made by the research apprentice using results from the preliminary analysis of the data collected. Concurrent with the ground truthing food store surveys study, we undertook a study of the impact of the retail food environment on obesity in North Carolina. Secondary data were assembled from two sources; 2006 U. S. Census Bureau, County Business Pattern, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Information on the number of food stores outlets by type according to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) (supermarkets, convenience stores and convenience stores with gas stations) for North Carolina were obtained from the County Business Pattern of the U.S. Census Bureau. Individual data including Body Mass Index (BMI), fruit and vegetable consumption, and socioeconomic information- age, income, education, employment, race, gender and physical activity were obtained from the BRFSS. Data on food stores were linked through county codes to individual data from the BRFSS applying multilevel modeling approaches. Two presentations based on this work were made at the ARD meetings at Atlanta. A planned survey of consumer perceptions of the food environment in Greensboro and food store survey in Caswell county did not materialize because of budgetary restrictions imposed in the middle of the year. A database of food availability and prices was created for Guilford County. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Findings from our studies increase knowledge regarding the impact of the food environment on healthy food consumption, and weight outcomes. The preliminary results of the food store survey show that availability of fruits and vegetables are more common in supermarkets than they are in smaller grocery stores and convenient stores in the Triad area of NC, where this study took place. In addition, there are more supermarket stores in wealthy neighborhoods than they are in low-income neighborhoods in Greensboro. Findings from the multilevel study of the North Carolina food environment show that BMI decreased with the availability of supermarkets, and consumption of more servings of fruits and vegetables. In contrast increased availability of gas and convenience type food store outlets was associated with increased BMI. These findings from this study would seem to reinforce the notion that the existence of 'food deserts' in certain counties may be exacerbating the obesity problem, suggesting that community and public policy interventions directed at improving food outlets that provide access to fruits and vegetables may be necessary to attenuate the high rates of overweight and obesity.
Publications
- Adu-Nyako, K. 2009. The Food Environment in North Carolina. Re:search ,ARP NCAT, Vol 6: 10-11.
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