Characterizing the food environment: pitfalls and future directions

Public Health Nutrition

Adam Drewnowski¹  Glen E Duncan¹  Anne Vernez Moudon¹  Brian E Saelens¹  Eric Scharnhorst¹  Philip M Hurvitz¹ 

关键词: Census of food sources;    Health value;    Exposure;   

DOI  :  10.1017/S1368980013000773

学科分类：卫生学

来源: Cambridge University Press

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveTo assess a county population's exposure to different types of food sources reported to affect both diet quality and obesity rates.DesignFood permit records obtained from the local health department served to establish the full census of food stores and restaurants. Employing prior categorization schemes which classified the relative healthfulness of food sources based on establishment type (i.e. supermarkets v. convenience stores, or full-service v. fast-food restaurants), food establishments were assigned to the healthy, unhealthy or undetermined groups.SettingKing County, WA, USA.SubjectsFull census of food sources.ResultsAccording to all categorization schemes, most food establishments in King County fell into the unhealthy and undetermined groups. Use of the food permit data showed that large stores, which included supermarkets as healthy food establishments, contained a sizeable number of bakery/delis, fish/meat, ethnic and standard quick-service restaurants and coffee shops, all food sources that, when housed in a separate venue or owned by a different business establishment, were classified as either unhealthy or of undetermined value to health.ConclusionsTo fully assess the potential health effects of exposure to the extant food environment, future research would need to establish the health value of foods in many such common establishments as individually owned grocery stores and ethnic food stores and restaurants. Within-venue exposure to foods should also be investigated.

【 授权许可】

Unknown