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Using a Virtual Store As a Research Tool to Investigate Consumer In-store Behavior
Published on: July 24, 2017
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Consumer food environment and overweight
Patrícia Pinheiro de Freitas1, Mariana Carvalho de Menezes2, Aline Cristine Souza Lopes3
1University of Minas Gerais, Research Group in Nutrition Interventions of University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|June 30, 2019
Summary
The variety of vegetables in local food stores is linked to lower overweight incidence in Brazilian primary healthcare users. Promoting healthy food environments can aid weight management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The consumer food environment significantly influences dietary choices and health outcomes.
- Understanding the link between food store characteristics and overweight is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the consumer food environment in stores selling fruits and vegetables (FVs) and overweight incidence.
- To analyze how FV and ultra-processed food (UPF) availability, diversity, variety, quality, advertising, and price relate to overweight in primary healthcare users.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 2810 users from a Brazilian primary healthcare service (Health Academy Program - HAP) in 2013.
- Audited 336 food stores for FV and UPF environment characteristics.
- Utilized multilevel logistic models to assess relationships between overweight and consumer environment factors.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of overweight (62.6%) was observed among participants.
- Over 70% of stores offered adequate diversity and variety of FVs, but nearly 40% had inadequate quality vegetables.
- A significant association was found between the variety of vegetables in stores and a lower incidence of overweight (OR 0.99, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The food environment plays a critical role in shaping food choices and consumption patterns.
- Increased exposure to healthy foods, particularly vegetable variety in stores, should be integrated into weight management guidelines.
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