Local food environment and fruit and vegetable consumption: An ecological study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Understanding the environment-diet relationship is crucial for public health.
• Fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption is a key indicator of dietary quality.
• Socioeconomic and environmental factors influence dietary choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe environmental conditions in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
• To examine the relationship between the nutrition environment and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption.
• To identify geographical variations in FV consumption patterns.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated food stores within 1600m buffer zones of 18 Health Academy Programme sites (2013-2014).
• Assessed community and consumer nutrition environment variables via direct observation.
• Collected user data on income and FV consumption through interviews (n=3414 users, 336 stores).
• Utilized spatial analysis techniques including Kernel intensity estimator and Local Moran's Index.

Main Results:

• Identified significant geographical variations in fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption.
• Higher average FV consumption was observed in neighborhoods with higher income, greater food store concentration, and better access to healthy foods.
• Sites with low FV consumption exhibited the highest prevalence of food stores with poor access to healthy options.

Conclusions:

• Negative characteristics of the food environment are associated with low fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption.
• Public policies and built environment interventions are needed to improve access to and consumption of healthy foods.
• Targeted interventions can create healthier food environments and promote better dietary habits.