Adherence
Higher density of BMI-healthy food outlets (supermarkets, fruit/vegetable markets, natural food stores) within a half-mile residential network buffer is associated with lower mean BMI and lower prevalence of obesity, independent of neighborhood walkability.
Living in a neighborhood with more supermarkets, fruit/vegetable markets, and natural food stores is linked to a slightly lower BMI. However, this effect is modest and exists alongside the benefits of walkable neighborhoods. Simply adding healthy food options without improving walkability or addressing other lifestyle factors may have limited impact on obesity rates.
Density of BMI-healthy food outlets (supermarkets, fruit and vegetable markets, and natural food stores) was inversely associated with BMI... The prevalence ratio for obesity comparing the fifth quintile of healthy food density with the lowest two quintiles combined was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.78–0.97).
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=13,102) and rigorous controls for walkability and demographics, but the cross-sectional design prevents causal inference due to potential self-selection bias.
Source
Neighborhood Food Environment and Walkability Predict Obesity in New York City
Andrew Rundle et al. · Environmental Health Perspectives · 2008
DOI 10.1289/ehp.11590
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