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Journal of Community Health
Published in: Journal of Community Health 4/2012

Open Access 01-08-2012 | Review

Measures of the Consumer Food Store Environment: A Systematic Review of the Evidence 2000–2011

Authors: Alison Gustafson, Scott Hankins, Stephanie Jilcott

Published in: Journal of Community Health | Issue 4/2012

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Abstract

Description of the consumer food environment has proliferated in publication. However, there has been a lack of systematic reviews focusing on how the consumer food environment is associated with the following: (1) neighborhood characteristics; (2) food prices; (3) dietary patterns; and (4) weight status. We conducted a systematic review of primary, quantitative, observational studies, published in English that conducted an audit of the consumer food environment. The literature search included electronic, hand searches, and peer-reviewed from 2000 to 2011. Fifty six papers met the inclusion criteria. Six studies reported stores in low income neighborhoods or high minority neighborhoods had less availability of healthy food. While, four studies found there was no difference in availability between neighborhoods. The results were also inconsistent for differences in food prices, dietary patterns, and weight status. This systematic review uncovered several key findings. (1) Systematic measurement of determining availability of food within stores and store types is needed; (2) Context is relevant for understanding the complexities of the consumer food environment; (3) Interventions and longitudinal studies addressing purchasing habits, diet, and obesity outcomes are needed; and (4) Influences of price and marketing that may be linked with why people purchase certain items.
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Metadata
Title
Measures of the Consumer Food Store Environment: A Systematic Review of the Evidence 2000–2011
Authors
Alison Gustafson
Scott Hankins
Stephanie Jilcott
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Community Health / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 0094-5145
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3610
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9524-x

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