A possible dose–response association between distance to farmers’ markets and roadside produce stands, frequency of shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and body mass index among customers in the Southern United States

Background: The association between farmers’ market characteristics and consumer shopping habits remains unclear. Our objective was to examine associations among distance to farmers’ markets, amenities within farmers’ markets, frequency of farmers’ market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that the relationship between frequency of farmers’ market shopping and BMI would be mediated by fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: In 15 farmers’ markets in northeastern North Carolina, July–September 2015, we conducted a crosssectional survey among 263 farmers’ market customers (199 provided complete address data) and conducted farmers’ market audits. To participate, customers had to be over 18 years of age, and English speaking. Dependent variables included farmers’ market shopping frequency, fruit and vegetable consumption, and BMI. Analysis of variance, adjusted multinomial logistic regression, Poisson regression, and linear regression models, adjusted for age, race, sex, and education, were used to examine associations between distance to farmers’ markets, amenities within farmers’ markets, frequency of farmers’ market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and BMI. Results: Those who reported shopping at farmers’ markets a few times per year or less reported consuming 4.4 (standard deviation = 1.7) daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and those who reported shopping 2 or more times per week reported consuming 5.5 (2.2) daily servings. There was no association between farmers’ market amenities, and shopping frequency or fruit and vegetable consumption. Those who shopped 2 or more times per week had a statistically significantly lower BMI than those who shopped less frequently. There was no evidence of mediation of the relationship between frequency of shopping and BMI by fruit and vegetable consumption. Conclusions: More work should be done to understand factors within farmers’ markets that encourage fruit and vegetable purchases.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun

Disparities in healthy food zoning, farmers’ market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption among North Carolina residents

Background Context and purpose of the study. To examine (1) associations between county-level zoning to support farmers’ market placement and county-level farmers’ market availability, rural/urban designation, percent African American residents, and percent of residents living below poverty and (2) individual-level associations between zoning to support farmers’ markets; fruit and vegetable consumption and body mass index (BMI) among a random sample of residents of six North Carolina (NC) counties. Methods Zoning ordinances were scored to indicate supportiveness for healthy food outlets. Number of farmers’ markets (per capita) was obtained from the NC-Community Transformation Grant Project Fruit and Vegetable Outlet Inventory (2013). County-level census data on rural/urban status, percent African American, and percent poverty were obtained. For data on farmers’ market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and BMI, trained interviewers conducted a random digit dial telephone survey of residents of six NC counties (3 urban and 3 rural). Pearson correlation coefficients and multilevel linear regression models were used to examine county-level and individual-level associations between zoning supportiveness, farmers’ market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption and BMI. Results At the county-level, healthier food zoning was greater in more urban areas and areas with less poverty. At the individual-level, self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with healthier food zoning. Conclusions Disparities in zoning to promote healthy eating should be further examined, and future studies should assess whether amending zoning ordinances will lead to greater availability of healthy foods and changes in dietary behavior and health outcomes.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun

Associations Between Neighborhood-Level Factors Related to a Healthful Lifestyle and Dietary Intake, Physical Activity, and Support for Obesity Prevention Polices Among Rural Adults

PURPOSE: To examine cross-sectional associations among neighborhood- and individual-level factors related to a healthful lifestyle and dietary intake, physical activity (PA), and support for obesity prevention polices in rural eastern North Carolina adults. METHODS: We examined perceived neighborhood barriers to a healthful lifestyle, and associations between neighborhood barriers to healthy eating and PA, participants’ support for seven obesity prevention policies, and dependent variables of self-reported dietary and PA behaviors, and measured body mass index (BMI) (n = 366 study participants). We then used participants’ residential addresses and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to assess neighborhood-level factors related to access to healthy food and PA opportunities. Correlational analyses and adjusted linear regression models were used to examine associations between neighborhood-level factors related to a healthful lifestyle and dietary and PA behaviors, BMI, and obesity prevention policy support. RESULTS: The most commonly reported neighborhood barriers (from a list of 18 potential barriers) perceived by participants included: not enough bicycle lanes and sidewalks, not enough affordable exercise places, too much crime, and no place to buy a quick, healthy meal to go. Higher diet quality was inversely related to perceived and GIS-assessed neighborhood nutrition barriers. There were no significant associations between neighborhood barriers and PA. More perceived neighborhood barriers were positively associated with BMI. Support for obesity prevention policy change was positively associated with perceptions of more neighborhood barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood factors that promote a healthful lifestyle were associated with higher diet quality and lower BMI. Individuals who perceived more neighborhood-level barriers to healthy eating and PA usually supported policies to address those barriers. Future studies should examine mechanisms to garner such support for health-promoting neighborhood changes

Developing an agenda for research about policies to improve access to healthy foods in rural communities: a concept mapping study

Background Policies that improve access to healthy, affordable foods may improve population health and reduce health disparities. In the United States most food access policy research focuses on urban communities even though residents of rural communities face disproportionately higher risk for nutrition-related chronic diseases compared to residents of urban communities. The purpose of this study was to (1) identify the factors associated with access to healthy, affordable food in rural communities in the United States; and (2) prioritize a meaningful and feasible rural food policy research agenda. Methods This study was conducted by the Rural Food Access Workgroup (RFAWG), a workgroup facilitated by the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network. A national sample of academic and non-academic researchers, public health and cooperative extension practitioners, and other experts who focus on rural food access and economic development was invited to complete a concept mapping process that included brainstorming the factors that are associated with rural food access, sorting and organizing the factors into similar domains, and rating the importance of policies and research to address these factors. As a last step, RFAWG members convened to interpret the data and establish research recommendations. Results Seventy-five participants in the brainstorming exercise represented the following sectors: non-extension research (n = 27), non-extension program administration (n = 18), “other� (n = 14), policy advocacy (n = 10), and cooperative extension service (n = 6). The brainstorming exercise generated 90 distinct statements about factors associated with rural food access in the United States; these were sorted into 5 clusters. Go Zones were established for the factors that were rated highly as both a priority policy target and a priority for research. The highest ranked policy and research priorities include strategies designed to build economic viability in rural communities, improve access to federal food and nutrition assistance programs, improve food retail systems, and increase the personal food production capacity of rural residents. Respondents also prioritized the development of valid and reliable research methodologies to measure variables associated with rural food access. Conclusions This collaborative, trans-disciplinary, participatory process, created a map to guide and prioritize research about polices to improve healthy, affordable food access in rural communities

Validation of food store environment secondary data source and the role of neighborhood deprivation in Appalachia, Kentucky

Background Based on the need for better measurement of the retail food environment in rural settings and to examine how deprivation may be unique in rural settings, the aims of this study were: 1) to validate one commercially available data source with direct field observations of food retailers; and 2) to examine the association between modified neighborhood deprivation and the modified retail food environment score (mRFEI). Methods Secondary data were obtained from a commercial database, InfoUSA in 2011, on all retail food outlets for each census tract. In 2011, direct observation identifying all listed food retailers was conducted in 14 counties in Kentucky. Sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPV) were compared. Neighborhood deprivation index was derived from American Community Survey data. Multinomial regression was used to examine associations between neighborhood deprivation and the mRFEI score (indicator of retailers selling healthy foods such as low-fat foods and fruits and vegetables relative to retailers selling more energy dense foods). Results The sensitivity of the commercial database was high for traditional food retailers (grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores), with a range of 0.96-1.00, but lower for non-traditional food retailers; dollar stores (0.20) and Farmer’s Markets (0.50). For traditional food outlets, the PPV for smaller non-chain grocery stores was 38%, and large chain supermarkets was 87%. Compared to those with no stores in their neighborhoods, those with a supercenter [OR 0.50 (95% CI 0.27. 0.97)] or convenience store [OR 0.67 (95% CI 0.51, 0.89)] in their neighborhood have lower odds of living in a low deprivation neighborhood relative to a high deprivation neighborhood. Conclusion The secondary commercial database used in this study was insufficient to characterize the rural retail food environment. Our findings suggest that neighborhoods with high neighborhood deprivation are associated with having certain store types that may promote less healthy food options

Evaluation of nutritional care of overweight adults from the perspective of comprehensive health care

Objective: Describe and evaluate the nutritional care provided for overweight adults by the Primary and Secondary Health Care services of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This study was carried out between 2013 and 2015 integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches; it was divided into two phases: (1) characterization and (2) evaluation. In phase 1, a census of Primary Health Care Units (n=28) and Secondary Health Care Units (n=4) was conducted using interviews with health service managers and/or health professionals. Data were analyzed using exploratory data analysis. In phase 2, in-depth interviews were conducted with health service managers and/or health professionals investigating a sample of the Primary Health Care services and the totality of Secondary Health Care services provided. Thematic analysis was carried out using the theoretical framework for comprehensive health care proposed by Pinheiro & Mattos. Results: A total of 40 professionals were interviewed: 36 in the primary health care services and 4 in the secondary health care services. Nutritional care in the Primary Care services is focused on individual care and referrals to other services; nutrition diagnosis and health promotion occur only when overweight is associated with another disease. It was observed that the referral and counter-referral system and intersectorial collaborations were ineffective. In Secondary Care services, nutritional care is focused on clinical care using traditional approaches to nutrition education. Limiting factors for promoting comprehensive care were identified at the two levels of care: unproductive actions, lack of actions for health promotion and protection, and little dialogue between the Primary and Secondary care services. Conclusion: Overweight is not an outcome based on Primary and Secondary Care, but rather on prescriptive practices, which are not very effective in promoting users’ autonomy. It is necessary to guide the actions taken in these two levels of care to ensure the promotion of effective nutritional care.Objetivo: Descrever e avaliar a atenção nutricional aos adultos com excesso de peso, na Atenção Primária e Secundária à Saúde, em Santos, São Paulo. Métodos: Estudo de caráter quanti e qualitativo, realizado entre 2013 e 2015, em duas etapas: diagnóstico (1) e avaliação (2). Na etapa 1, fez-se um censo dos serviços de Atenção Primária e Secundária (n=28) e Atenção Secundária a Saúde (n=4), entrevistando gestores e/ou profissionais; realizou-se análise exploratória dos dados. Na etapa 2, entrevistaram-se, em profundidade, gestores e/ou profissionais com uma amostra dos serviços da Atenção Primária a Saúde e a totalidade dos de Atenção Secundária a Saúde; realizou-se análise temática, utilizando o referencial teórico de integralidade segundo Pinheiro & Mattos. Resultados: Entrevistaram-se 40 profissionais: 36 na Atenção Primária a Saúde e quatro na Atenção Secundária a Saúde. A atenção nutricional na Atenção Primária a Saúde, restringe-se ao atendimento individual, com encaminhamento a outro ponto; diagnóstico nutricional e ações de promoção da saúde só ocorrem quando o excesso de peso se associa a outra doença; verificaram-se fragilidades na referência e contrarreferência e na efetivação da intersetorialidade. Na Atenção Secundária a Saúde, a atenção nutricional direciona-se ao atendimento clínico, utilizando abordagens tradicionais de educação alimentar. Nos dois pontos de atenção identificaram-se fatores limitantes da integralidade: ações fragmentadas; ausência de ações de promoção e proteção da saúde e pouco diálogo entre a Atenção Primária a Saúde e Atenção Secundária a Saúde. Conclusão: O excesso de peso não é um desfecho pautado na Atenção Primária a Saúde e, na Atenção Secundária a Saúde, pauta-se por práticas prescritivas, pouco potentes para promover a autonomia dos sujeitos. Faz-se necessário reorientar as ações nesses dois pontos de atenção, para qualificar a atenção nutricional.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Saude & Soc, Programa Posgrad Alimentos Nutr & Saude, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Saude & Soc, Dept Polit Publ & Saude Colet, R Silva Jardim 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Saude & Soc, Programa Posgrad Alimentos Nutr & Saude, Santos, SP, BraziUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Saude & Soc, Dept Polit Publ & Saude Colet, R Silva Jardim 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP, BrazilCNPq: 486017_2011-7Web of Scienc