Do residents of food deserts express different food buying preferences compared to residents of food oases? A mixed-meth
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RESEARCH
Open Access
Do residents of food deserts express different food buying preferences compared to residents of food oases? A mixed-methods analysis Renee E Walker1,2*, Jason Block3 and Ichiro Kawachi4
Abstract Background: Many people lack access to food stores that provide healthful food. Neighborhoods with poor supermarket access have been characterized as “food deserts” (as contrast with “food oases”). This study explored factors influencing food buying practices among residents of food deserts versus food oases in the city of Boston, USA. Methods: We used the mixed-methods approach of concept mapping, which allows participants to identify, list, and organize their perceptions according to importance. Resulting maps visually illustrate priority areas. Results: Sixty-seven low-income adults completed the concept mapping process that identified 163 unique statements (e.g. relating to affordability, taste, and convenience) that influence food buying practices. Multivariate statistical techniques grouped the 163 statements into 8 clusters or concepts. Results showed that average cluster ratings and rankings were similar between residents of food deserts and food oases. Conclusions: The implication of this study pertains to the importance of community resources and emergency food assistance programs that have served to minimize the burden associated with hunger and poor food access among low-income, urban populations. Keywords: Food access, Food desert, Food oasis, Food buying practices, Concept mapping, Low-income
Background Neighborhood differences in the local food environment have been increasingly implicated in the rising prevalence of obesity in the United States. Studies have reported an association between neighborhood food environment and obesity prevalence in the United States. Maddock [1] found a positive association between fast food restaurant density and obesity prevalence. A study by Inagami and colleagues [2] showed a higher body mass index (BMI) among those who shopped in disadvantaged neighborhoods – defined by lower sociocenomic status. Additionally, two studies by Morland et al., [3,4] showed that obesity prevalence was lower in areas where supermarkets were located compared to areas * Correspondence: [email protected]. 1 Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Room 445-C, Boston, MA 02215, USA 2 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, Alumni House 327, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
with grocery stores or fast food restaurants. The presence of a supermarket is often viewed as the “gold standard” in food access given the lower costs, increased quantity and improved quality of food items available at chain supermarkets compared to their non-chain counterparts. Despite support for the association between supermarket access and obesity prevalence, there are neighborhoods at increased risk for diet-related health
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