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Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
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Food Access and Its Relationship to Perceived Walkability, Safety, and Social Cohesion
Tamara Vehige Calise1, Wendy Chow1, Amanda Ryder1
1John Snow Inc., Boston, MA, USA.
Health Promotion Practice
|June 10, 2018
Summary
Neighborhood walkability, safety, and social cohesion significantly improve access to healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. These factors are key to reducing health disparities and promoting better eating habits.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
- Sociology
Background:
- Social inequalities impact health outcomes, with neighborhood characteristics playing a crucial role.
- Understanding the built and social environment is vital for addressing health disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between perceived neighborhood environmental factors and access to healthy foods.
- To investigate how walkability, safety, and social cohesion influence the availability and selection of fresh fruits and vegetables (FVs) and low-fat products (LFPs).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,500 households in Springfield, Missouri.
- Key outcome measures included ease of purchase, selection, quality, and affordability of FVs and LFPs.
- Statistical analysis, including odds ratios, was used to determine associations.
Main Results:
- High neighborhood walkability, low crime rates, and high social cohesion were significantly associated with a greater selection of FVs.
- Increased walkability and lower crime rates were linked to better overall access to FVs.
- A majority of respondents found it easy to purchase FVs and LFPs, with good selection available.
Conclusions:
- Neighborhood physical and social environments are critical determinants of healthy food access.
- Interventions targeting walkability, safety, and social cohesion may improve dietary behaviors and health outcomes.
- Addressing environmental factors is essential for reducing health disparities related to food access.
Keywords:
chronic diseasenutritionprogram planning and evaluationsocial determinants of healthsurveysMore Related Videos
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