US secondary schools and food outlets

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• The food environment surrounding schools significantly influences adolescent dietary behaviors.
• Understanding the proximity of food outlets to secondary schools is crucial for public health interventions.
• Previous research has indicated disparities in food access based on socioeconomic and racial factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the availability of fast food restaurants and convenience stores within walking distance of U.S. public secondary schools.
• To examine how neighborhood income, race, and urbanicity are associated with the density of these food outlets near schools.

Main Methods:

• Geospatial analysis was used to determine the number of fast food restaurants and convenience stores within a 0.5-mile radius of public secondary schools nationwide.
• Multivariate statistical models were employed to analyze associations between school location and neighborhood characteristics (income, race, urbanicity).

Main Results:

• Approximately one-third of U.S. public secondary schools have at least one fast food restaurant or convenience store within walking distance.
• Schools in lower-income neighborhoods had a higher prevalence of nearby food outlets compared to those in higher-income neighborhoods.
• Urban schools, particularly those with a secondary school presence, exhibited a greater density of food outlets compared to areas without secondary schools.

Conclusions:

• The food environment around U.S. public secondary schools is characterized by the widespread availability of fast food and convenience stores.
• Socioeconomic and urban factors significantly shape the proximity of these outlets, suggesting environmental inequalities.
• Addressing the adolescent obesity epidemic necessitates strategic interventions targeting the food environment surrounding schools.