Association of the retail food environment, BMI, dietary patterns, and socioeconomic position in urban areas of Mexico
Author(s)
Pineda, Elisa
Barbosa Cunha, Diana
Taghavi Azar Sharabiani, Mansour
Millett, Christopher
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The retail food environment is a key modifiable driver of food choice and the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to assess the relationship between the density of food retailers, body mass index (BMI), dietary patterns, and socioeconomic position in Mexico. Cross-sectional dietary data, BMI and socioeconomic characteristics of adult participants came from the nationally representative 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey in Mexico. Geographical and food outlet data were obtained from official statistics. Densities of food outlets per census tract area (CTA) were calculated. Dietary patterns were determined using exploratory factor analysis and principal component analysis. The association of food environment variables, socioeconomic position, BMI, and dietary patterns was assessed using two-level multilevel linear regression models. Three dietary patterns were identified-the healthy, the unhealthy and the carbohydrates-and-drinks dietary pattern. Lower availability of fruit and vegetable stores was associated with an unhealthier dietary pattern whilst a higher restaurant density was associated with a carbohydrates-and-drinks pattern. A graded and inverse association was observed for fruit and vegetable store density and socioeconomic position (SEP)-lower-income populations had a reduced availability of fruit and vegetable stores, compared with higher-income populations. A higher density of convenience stores was associated with a higher BMI when adjusting for unhealthy dietary patterns. Upper-income households were more likely to consume healthy dietary patterns and middle-upper-income households were less likely to consume unhealthy dietary patterns when exposed to high densities of fruit and vegetable stores. When exposed to a high concentration of convenience stores, lower and upper-lower-income households were more likely to consume unhealthy dietary patterns. Food environment and sociodemographic conditions within neighbourhoods may affect dietary behaviours. Food environment interventions and policies which improve access to healthy foods and restrict access to unhealthy foods may facilitate healthier diets and contribute to the prevention of NCDs.
Date Issued
2023-02-23
Date Acceptance
2023-01-30
Citation
PLOS Global Public Health, 2023, 3 (2)
ISSN
2767-3375
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Journal / Book Title
PLOS Global Public Health
Volume
3
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2023 Pineda et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36962971
PII: PGPH-D-22-00316
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
ARTN e0001069