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Agurs-Collins T, Alvidrez J, ElShourbagy Ferreira S, Evans M, Gibbs K, Kowtha B, Pratt C, Reedy J, Shams-White M, Brown AG. Perspective: Nutrition Health Disparities Framework: A Model to Advance Health Equity. Adv Nutr 2024; 15:100194. [PMID: 38616067 PMCID: PMC11031378 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Disparities in nutrition, such as poor diet quality and inadequate nutrient intake, arise from multiple factors and are related to adverse health outcomes such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. The aim of the current perspective is to present a nutrition-centric socioecological framework that delineates determinants and factors that contribute to diet and nutrition-related disparities among disadvantaged populations. The Nutrition Health Disparities Framework (NHDF) describes the domains (biological, behavioral, physical/built environment, sociocultural environment, and healthcare system) that influence nutrition-related health disparities through the lens of each level of influence (that is, individual, interpersonal, community, and societal). On the basis of the scientific literature, the authors engaged in consensus decision making in selecting nutrition-related determinants of health within each domain and socioecological level when creating the NHDF. The framework identifies how neighborhood food availability and access (individual/built environment) intersect with cultural norms and practices (interpersonal/sociocultural environment) to influence dietary behaviors, exposures, and risk of diet-related diseases. In addition, the NHDF shows how factors such as genetic predisposition (individual/biology), family dietary practices (interpersonal/behavioral), and food marketing policies (societal) may impact the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages and increase chronic disease risk. Family and peer norms (interpersonal/behavior) related to breastfeeding and early childhood nutrition interact with resource-poor environments such as lack of access to preventive healthcare settings (societal/healthcare system) and low usage of federal nutrition programs (societal/behavioral), which may increase risk of poor nutrition during childhood and food insecurity. The NHDF describes the synergistic interrelationships among factors at different levels of the socioecological model that influence nutrition-related outcomes and exacerbate health disparities. The framework is a useful resource for nutrition researchers, practitioners, food industry leaders, and policymakers interested in improving diet-related health outcomes and promoting health equity in diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Agurs-Collins
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | | | - Sanae ElShourbagy Ferreira
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Division of Clinical Innovation, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mary Evans
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kimberlea Gibbs
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Division of Extramural Research, Pediatric Growth and Nutrition Branch, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | | | - Charlotte Pratt
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jill Reedy
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marissa Shams-White
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alison Gm Brown
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Chan JA, Koster A, Eussen SJPM, Pinho MGM, Lakerveld J, Stehouwer CDA, Dagnelie PC, van der Kallen CJ, van Greevenbroek MMJ, Wesselius A, Bosma H. The association between the food environment and adherence to healthy diet quality: the Maastricht Study. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:1775-1783. [PMID: 37340803 PMCID: PMC10478064 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023001180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine if healthier neighbourhood food environments are associated with healthier diet quality. DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study using linear regression models to analyse data from the Maastricht Study. Diet quality was assessed using data collected with a FFQ to calculate the Dutch Healthy Diet (DHD). A buffer zone encompassing a 1000 m radius was created around each participant home address. The Food Environment Healthiness Index (FEHI) was calculated using a Kernel density analysis within the buffers of available food outlets. The association between the FEHI and the DHD score was analysed and adjusted for socio-economic variables. SETTING The region of Maastricht including the surrounding food retailers in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS 7367 subjects aged 40-75 years in the south of the Netherlands. RESULTS No relationship was identified between either the FEHI (B = 0·62; 95 % CI = -2·54, 3·78) or individual food outlets, such as fast food (B = -0·07; 95 % CI = -0·20, 0·07) and diet quality. Similar null findings using the FEHI were identified at the 500 m (B = 0·95; 95 % CI = -0·85, 2·75) and 1500 m (B = 1·57; 95 % CI = -3·30, 6·44) buffer. There was also no association between the food environment and individual items of the DHD including fruits, vegetables and sugar-sweetened beverages. CONCLUSION The food environment in the Maastricht area appeared marginally unhealthy, but the differences in the food environment were not related to the quality of food that participants reported as intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Alexander Chan
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Social Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northern California VA Healthcare System, Martinez, CA, USA
| | - Annemarie Koster
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Social Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Simone JPM Eussen
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Gabriela M Pinho
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Lakerveld
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Coen DA Stehouwer
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter C Dagnelie
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Carla J van der Kallen
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen MJ van Greevenbroek
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Anke Wesselius
- Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Bosma
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Social Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Kinra S, Mallinson PA, Debbarma A, Walls HL, Lieber J, Bhogadi S, Addanki S, Pande R, Kurpad AV, Kannuri NK, Aggarwal S, Kulkarni B, Finkelstein EA, Deo S. Impact of a financial incentive scheme on purchase of fruits and vegetables from unorganised retailers in rural India: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2023; 12:100140. [PMID: 37384059 PMCID: PMC10305860 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Background Inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables is prevalent in rural areas of India, where around 65% of the population reside. Financial incentives have been shown to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables in urban supermarkets, but their feasibility and effectiveness with unorganised retailers in rural India is unclear. Methods A cluster-randomised controlled trial of a financial incentive scheme involving ∼20% cashback on purchase of fruits and vegetables from local retailers was conducted in six villages (3535 households). All households in three intervention villages were invited to participate in the scheme which ran for three months (February-April 2021), while no intervention was offered in control villages. Self-reported (pre-intervention and post-intervention) data on purchase of fruits and vegetables were collected from a random sub-sample of households in control and intervention villages. Findings A total of 1109 households (88% of those invited) provided data. After the intervention, the weekly quantity of self-reported fruits and vegetables purchased were (i) 18.6 kg (intervention) and 14.2 kg (control), baseline-adjusted mean difference 4 kg (95% CI: -6.4 to 14.4) from any retailer (primary outcome); and (ii) 13.1 kg (intervention) and 7.1 kg (control), baseline-adjusted mean difference 7.4 kg (95% CI: 3.8-10.9) from local retailers participating in the scheme (secondary outcome). There was no evidence of differential effects of the intervention by household food security or by socioeconomic position, and no unintended adverse consequences were noted. Interpretation Financial incentive schemes are feasible in unorganised food retail environments. Effectiveness in improving diet quality of the household likely hinges on the percentage of retailers willing to participate in such a scheme. Funding This research has been funded by the Drivers of Food Choice (DFC) Competitive Grants Program, which is funded by the UK Government's Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and managed by the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, USA; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK Government's official policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Kinra
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Arindam Debbarma
- Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, 500111, India
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Helen L. Walls
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Judith Lieber
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Santhi Bhogadi
- Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad, 500033, India
| | | | - Richa Pande
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, 50007, India
| | | | | | | | - Bharati Kulkarni
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, 50007, India
| | | | - Sarang Deo
- Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, 500111, India
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Lou Z, Yi SS, Pomeranz J, Suss R, Russo R, Rummo PE, Eom H, Liu J, Zhang Y, Moran AE, Bellows BK, Kong N, Li Y. The Health and Economic Impact of Using a Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax to Fund Fruit and Vegetable Subsidies in New York City: A Modeling Study. J Urban Health 2023; 100:51-62. [PMID: 36550343 PMCID: PMC9918717 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00699-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and high sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are independently associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many people in New York City (NYC) have low FV intake and high SSB consumption, partly due to high cost of fresh FVs and low cost of and easy access to SSBs. A potential implementation of an SSB tax and an FV subsidy program could result in substantial public health and economic benefits. We used a validated microsimulation model for predicting CVD events to estimate the health impact and cost-effectiveness of SSB taxes, FV subsidies, and funding FV subsidies with an SSB tax in NYC. Population demographics and health profiles were estimated using data from the NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Policy effects and price elasticity were derived from recent meta-analyses. We found that funding FV subsidies with an SSB tax was projected to be the most cost-effective policy from the healthcare sector perspective. From the societal perspective, the most cost-effective policy was SSB taxes. All policy scenarios could prevent more CVD events and save more healthcare costs among men compared to women, and among Black vs. White adults. Public health practitioners and policymakers may want to consider adopting this combination of policy actions, while weighing feasibility considerations and other unintended consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyang Lou
- School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Stella S Yi
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer Pomeranz
- Department of Public Health Policy and Management, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Suss
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rienna Russo
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pasquale E Rummo
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Heesun Eom
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Junxiu Liu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yiyi Zhang
- Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew E Moran
- Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brandon K Bellows
- Division of General Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Nan Kong
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Caballero S, Moënne-Loccoz C, Delgado M, Luarte L, Jimenez Y, Galgani JE, Perez-Leighton CE. Eating contexts determine the efficacy of nutrient warning labels to promote healthy food choices. Front Nutr 2023; 9:1026623. [PMID: 36687700 PMCID: PMC9852898 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1026623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Unhealthy food choices increase the risk of obesity and its co-morbidities. Nutrition labels are a public health policy that aims to drive individuals toward healthier food choices. Chile has been an example of this policy, where mandatory nutrient warning labels (NWL) identify processed foods high in calories and critical nutrients. Eating contexts influence individual food choices, but whether eating contexts also influence how NWL alter the decision process and selection during food choice is unknown. Methods In an online mouse-tracking study, participants prompted to health, typical, or unrestricted eating contexts were instructed to choose between pairs of foods in the presence or absence of NWL. Conflict during choices was analyzed using mouse paths and reaction times. Results NWL increased conflict during unhealthy food choices and reduced conflict during healthy choices in all contexts. However, the probability that NWL reversed an unhealthy choice was 80% in a healthy, 37% in a typical, and 19% in an unrestricted context. A drift-diffusion model analysis showed the effects of NWL on choice were associated with an increased bias toward healthier foods in the healthy and typical but not in the unrestricted context. Discussion These data suggest that the efficacy of NWL to drive healthy food choices increases in a healthy eating context, whereas NWL are less effective in typical or unrestricted eating contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Caballero
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Programa de Magister en Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristóbal Moënne-Loccoz
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Delgado
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Luarte
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Programa Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yanireth Jimenez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José E. Galgani
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Departamento de Nutrición, Diabetes y Metabolismo, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio E. Perez-Leighton
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile,Programa Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: Claudio E. Perez-Leighton,
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Lowery CM, Henderson R, Curran N, Hoeffler S, De Marco M, Ng SW. Grocery Purchase Changes Were Associated With A North Carolina COVID-19 Food Assistance Incentive Program. Health Aff (Millwood) 2022; 41:1616-1625. [PMID: 36343315 PMCID: PMC10191414 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many low-income Americans experience food insecurity, which may have been exacerbated by economic instability during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In this study we assessed the impact of Healthy Helping, a short-term fruit and vegetable incentive program aimed at alleviating food insecurity and improving diet quality for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants, on grocery purchases, using transaction data from a large supermarket chain in North Carolina. We compared Healthy Helping participants' purchases of key food groups before and during the program with purchases by control shoppers participating in federal food assistance programs during the same period. Healthy Helping enrollment was associated with a $26.95 increase in monthly spending on fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes-an increase of 2.5 grams of fiber per 1,000 kilocalories purchased-and other shifts in the composition of food purchases, relative to control shoppers. These findings suggest that the program increased healthy food purchases while also increasing dollar sales at participating retailers. On average, participants did not use the full benefit; future research should explore factors associated with non- or underuse of benefits, to inform program design and outreach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Lowery
- Caitlin M. Lowery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Neal Curran
- Neal Curran, Reinvestment Partners, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Shu Wen Ng
- Shu Wen Ng , University of North Carolina
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Abstract
Population-based solutions are needed to stabilize and then reverse the continued upward trends in obesity prevalence in the US population and worldwide. This review focuses on the related, urgent issue of disparities in obesity prevalence affecting US racial/ethnic minority and other socially marginalized populations. The review provides background on these disparities from a health equity perspective and highlights evidence of progress in equity-focused obesity efforts. Five recommendations for advancing equity efforts are offered as potential approaches to build on progress to date: (a) give equity issues higher priority, (b) adopt a health equity lens, (c) strengthen approaches by using health equity frameworks, (d) broaden the types of policies considered, and (e) emphasize implementation science concepts and tools. Potential challenges and opportunities are identified, including the prospect of longer-term, transformative solutions that integrate global and national initiatives to address obesity, undernutrition, and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiriki K Kumanyika
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
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Greenwald HP, Tao E, Tilley G. Farmers' Market Incentives for Low-Income Families: Who Uses, How Much, and Why. Am J Prev Med 2022; 62:864-871. [PMID: 35597565 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Focusing on participation and utilization, this research helps to assess the potential impact and contributions of farmers' market incentive programs, often seen as means for improving nutrition and preventing disease among low-income families. METHODS Evaluating the largest farmers' market incentive program in the U.S. (California Market Match), this study used (1) 3 administrative databases (n=1,469, 6,799, and 30,506), (2) a participant survey (n=2,723), and (3) longitudinal interviews (n=163) with active and former participants. Quantitative data were analyzed with contingency tables and multiple regression. Qualitative data were coded into analytically significant themes. Data were collected in 2015-2018 and analyzed in 2018-2021. RESULTS Participation was typically low and varied across localities (3.7%-19.8% of eligible families in a sample of ZIP codes). According to administrative records, market visits by participants in 2 California regions averaged 2.18 and 3.12 per season. However, 77.1% of participants in the shopper survey indicated that they were repeat customers, and 51.0% indicated that they were regular utilizers. Deterrents to utilization included perceptions of inconvenience and high prices but not availability of produce in the community or travel time to markets. Utilization was most frequent among Asian shoppers and residents of Southern California outside Los Angeles County. CONCLUSIONS Farmers' market incentive programs such as Market Match appear likely to benefit population health through a core of committed shoppers. Improvement in participation and utilization may be attained through a better understanding of the communities that the markets are intended to serve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard P Greenwald
- Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Ernie Tao
- Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Gabrielle Tilley
- The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health, Los Angeles, California
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Lacko AM, Guilkey D, Popkin B, Ng SW. Associations Among Select State Policies and the Nutritional Quality of Household Packaged Food Purchases in the United States from 2008 Through 2017. J Acad Nutr Diet 2022; 122:731-744.e32. [PMID: 34626825 PMCID: PMC8940616 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Policy interventions are important public health tools because they can reach large numbers of people. State context has been associated with health outcomes, yet few studies have examined the extent to which state-level policies are associated with dietary quality. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate whether state policies are associated with the nutritional quality of household packaged food purchases. DESIGN This observational study used data from Nielsen Homescan, an open-cohort household panel where participants track purchases, and a combination of state-level food and social safety net policy variables from 2008 through 2017. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING This study included 615,634 household-year observations in the United States from 2008 through 2017. Household-year observations were excluded in the case that a household did not make a minimum number of purchases and in the case that they had incorrect geographic information. The final analytic sample was 611,719 household-years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Study outcomes included a set of nutrition-related measures of public health interest, including nutrients of concern (eg, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium) and calories from specific food groups (eg, fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, processed meats, mixed dishes, sugar-sweetened beverages, and desserts and snacks). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS This study used multilevel generalized linear models with state fixed effects on three samples: all households, only households with low income, and only households with low educational attainment. RESULTS Few significant associations were found between healthy food retail policies and the nutritional quality of purchases, and mixed associations were found between social safety net policies and lower or higher quality packaged food purchases. CONCLUSIONS Little evidence was found that state policy context in 2008 through 2017 was associated with the quality of packaged food purchases. However, variation in state policies is increasing over time, warranting future research into the relationship between these policies, the quality of packaged food purchases, and the rest of the diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Maria Lacko
- Food Research & Action Center, Washington, DC; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
| | - David Guilkey
- Department of Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Barry Popkin
- Department of Nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Pomeranz JL, Cash SB, Springer M, Del Giudice IM, Mozaffarian D. Opportunities to address the failure of online food retailers to ensure access to required food labelling information in the USA. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:1-9. [PMID: 35067257 PMCID: PMC9991769 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021004638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The rapid growth in web-based grocery food purchasing has outpaced federal regulatory attention to the online provision of nutrition and allergen information historically required on food product labels. We sought to characterise the extent and variability that online retailers disclose required and regulated information and identify the legal authorities for the federal government to require online food retailers to disclose such information. DESIGN We performed a limited scan of ten products across nine national online retailers and conducted legal research using LexisNexis to analyse federal regulatory agencies' authorities. SETTING USA. PARTICIPANTS N/A. RESULTS The scan of products revealed that required information (Nutrition Facts Panels, ingredient lists, common food allergens and per cent juice for fruit drinks) was present, conspicuous and legible for an average of only 36·5 % of the products surveyed, ranging from 11·4 % for potential allergens to 54·2 % for ingredients lists. More commonly, voluntary nutrition-related claims were prominently and conspicuously displayed (63·5 % across retailers and products). Our legal examination found that the Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission and United States Department of Agriculture have existing regulatory authority over labelling, online sales and advertising, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme retailers that can be utilised to address deficiencies in the provision of required information in the online food retail environment. CONCLUSIONS Information regularly provided to consumers in conventional settings is not being uniformly provided online. Congress or the federal agencies can require online food retailers disclose required nutrition and allergen information to support health, nutrition, equity and informed consumer decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sean B Cash
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Morgan Springer
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Dariush Mozaffarian
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
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Althoff T, Nilforoshan H, Hua J, Leskovec J. Large-scale diet tracking data reveal disparate associations between food environment and diet. Nat Commun 2022; 13:267. [PMID: 35042849 PMCID: PMC8766578 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27522-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer1-4. Limited access to healthy food options may contribute to unhealthy diets5,6. Studying diets is challenging, typically restricted to small sample sizes, single locations, and non-uniform design across studies, and has led to mixed results on the impact of the food environment7-23. Here we leverage smartphones to track diet health, operationalized through the self-reported consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, fast food and soda, as well as body-mass index status in a country-wide observational study of 1,164,926 U.S. participants (MyFitnessPal app users) and 2.3 billion food entries to study the independent contributions of fast food and grocery store access, income and education to diet health outcomes. This study constitutes the largest nationwide study examining the relationship between the food environment and diet to date. We find that higher access to grocery stores, lower access to fast food, higher income and college education are independently associated with higher consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, lower consumption of fast food and soda, and lower likelihood of being affected by overweight and obesity. However, these associations vary significantly across zip codes with predominantly Black, Hispanic or white populations. For instance, high grocery store access has a significantly larger association with higher fruit and vegetable consumption in zip codes with predominantly Hispanic populations (7.4% difference) and Black populations (10.2% difference) in contrast to zip codes with predominantly white populations (1.7% difference). Policy targeted at improving food access, income and education may increase healthy eating, but intervention allocation may need to be optimized for specific subpopulations and locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Althoff
- Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Hamed Nilforoshan
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jenna Hua
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Million Marker Wellness Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jure Leskovec
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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12
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Gustafson A, Gillespie R, DeWitt E, Cox B, Dunaway B, Haynes-Maslow L, Steeves EA, Trude ACB. Online Pilot Grocery Intervention among Rural and Urban Residents Aimed to Improve Purchasing Habits. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:871. [PMID: 35055688 PMCID: PMC8775883 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Online grocery shopping has the potential to improve access to food, particularly among low-income households located in urban food deserts and rural communities. The primary aim of this pilot intervention was to test whether a three-armed online grocery trial improved fruit and vegetable (F&V) purchases. Rural and urban adults across seven counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina were recruited to participate in an 8-week intervention in fall 2021. A total of 184 adults were enrolled into the following groups: (1) brick-and-mortar "BM" (control participants only received reminders to submit weekly grocery shopping receipts); (2) online-only with no support "O" (participants received weekly reminders to grocery shop online and to submit itemized receipts); and (3) online shopping with intervention nudges "O+I" (participants received nudges three times per week to grocery shop online, meal ideas, recipes, Facebook group support, and weekly reminders to shop online and to submit itemized receipts). On average, reported food spending on F/V by the O+I participants was USD 6.84 more compared to the BM arm. Online shopping with behavioral nudges and nutrition information shows great promise for helping customers in diverse locations to navigate the increasing presence of online grocery shopping platforms and to improve F&V purchases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Gustafson
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (B.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Rachel Gillespie
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (R.G.); (E.D.)
| | - Emily DeWitt
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (R.G.); (E.D.)
| | - Brittany Cox
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (B.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Brynnan Dunaway
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (B.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Lindsey Haynes-Maslow
- Agricultural & Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | | | - Angela C. B. Trude
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York City, NY 10003, USA;
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13
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Cohen N. Roles of Cities in Creating Healthful Food Systems. Annu Rev Public Health 2021; 43:419-437. [PMID: 34936824 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052220-021059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Over the past several decades, cities worldwide have attempted to reconfigure their food systems to improve public health, advance social justice, and promote environmental resilience using diverse municipal policies, often with the support of stakeholder-led governance mechanisms such as food policy councils. This article reviews the roles that cities have played in creating healthful urban food systems and the effects of those policies on public health. It explains that despite wide-ranging policy initiatives, disparities in food insecurity and malnourishment persist. It concludes by describing several promising pathways for urban food policy: engaging in food-focused urban planning to create equitable food environments; treating policies to address inequality and social justice as upstream food policies; considering the effects of new business models such as online food retail in urban food policy making; and using food procurement as a lever to influence regional, national, and global food systems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevin Cohen
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA;
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14
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Wolf PG, Sanchez-Flack JC, Buscemi J, Fitzgibbon ML, Gaskins HR, Ridlon JM, Kim S, Tussing-Humphreys L. Support policies that foster a healthy food environment and incentivize healthy food purchases to mitigate cancer inequities. Transl Behav Med 2021; 11:2123-2126. [PMID: 34223908 PMCID: PMC8344582 DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inequitable access to resources, leading to a disproportionate burden of disease in vulnerable communities in the USA. However, these inequities in health outcomes are not limited to COVID-19. Approximately 18% of cancers are related to dietary behaviors and excess body weight. Underserved communities, such as minority racial/ethnic groups living in neighborhoods of low socioeconomic status, experience barriers to healthy eating including lack of access to high-quality healthy foods and higher availability of unhealthy foods and beverages in local retail food outlets. Strikingly, these same populations are more likely to die from cancers related to dietary intake and obesity like colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers. To reduce cancer inequities, policy makers can act by supporting programs that incentivize healthy food purchases and improve the local food environment in underserved communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia G Wolf
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer C Sanchez-Flack
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joanna Buscemi
- Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marian L Fitzgibbon
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - H Rex Gaskins
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jason M Ridlon
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sage Kim
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lisa Tussing-Humphreys
- Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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15
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Consavage Stanley K, Harrigan PB, Serrano EL, Kraak VI. Applying a Multi-Dimensional Digital Food and Nutrition Literacy Model to Inform Research and Policies to Enable Adults in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to Make Healthy Purchases in the Online Food Retail Ecosystem. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168335. [PMID: 34444084 PMCID: PMC8394533 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture (USDA)-administered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) made substantial changes in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These changes highlight the need to identify the digital literacy skills and capacities of SNAP adults to purchase healthy groceries online. We conducted a scoping review of four electronic databases, Google and Google Scholar to identify studies that measured food and nutrition literacy outcomes for U.S. adults. We applied a multi-dimensional digital food and nutrition literacy (MDFNL) model to assess six literacy levels and components. Of 18 studies published from 2006-2021, all measured functional and interactive literacy but no study measured communicative, critical, translational, or digital literacy. Six studies examined SNAP or SNAP-Education outcomes. Adults with higher food or nutrition literacy scores had better cognitive, behavioral, food security and health outcomes. We suggest how these findings may inform research, policies, and actions to strengthen the multi-dimensional literacy skills of SNAP participants and SNAP-eligible adults to support healthy purchases in the online food retail ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Consavage Stanley
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-540-231-9638
| | - Paige B. Harrigan
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
| | - Elena L. Serrano
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
- Virginia Family Nutrition Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Vivica I. Kraak
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
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16
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Contributions of Food Environments to Dietary Quality and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2021; 23:14. [PMID: 33594516 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00912-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To evaluate the multidimensional influence of food environments on food choice, dietary quality, and diet-related health and identify critical gaps necessary to develop effective population interventions that influence food choice. RECENT FINDINGS Multicomponent interventions that interact with multiple layers of the food environment show limited but consistent effects on dietary behaviors and may have wider and substantive population-level reach with greater incorporation of validated, holistic measurement tools. Opportunities to use smartphone technology to measure multiple components of the food environment will facilitate future interventions, particularly as food environments expand into online settings and interact with consumers in novel ways to shape food choice. While studies suggest that all dimensions of the food environment influence diet and health outcomes, robust and consistent measurements of food environments that integrate objective and subjective components are essential for developing stronger evidence needed to shift public policies.
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17
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The Retail Food Environment: Time for a Change. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17238846. [PMID: 33260704 PMCID: PMC7729811 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Hecht AA, Lott MM, Arm K, Story MT, Snyder E, Wootan MG, Moran AJ. Developing a National Research Agenda to Support Healthy Food Retail. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E8141. [PMID: 33158134 PMCID: PMC7663573 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The food retail environment is an important driver of dietary choices. This article presents a national agenda for research in food retail, with the goal of identifying policies and corporate practices that effectively promote healthy food and beverage purchases and decrease unhealthy purchases. The research agenda was developed through a multi-step process that included (1) convening a scientific advisory committee; (2) commissioned research; (3) in-person expert convening; (4) thematic analysis of meeting notes and refining research questions; (5) follow-up survey of convening participants; and (6) refining the final research agenda. Public health researchers, advocates, food and beverage retailers, and funders participated in the agenda setting process. A total of 37 research questions grouped into ten priority areas emerged. Five priority areas focus on understanding the current food retail environment and consumer behavior and five focus on assessing implementation and effectiveness of interventions and policies to attain healthier retail. Priority topics include how frequency, duration, and impact of retailer promotion practices differ by community characteristics and how to leverage federal nutrition assistance programs to support healthy eating. To improve feasibility, researchers should explore partnerships with retailers and advocacy groups, identify novel data sources, and use a variety of study designs. This agenda can serve as a guide for researchers, food retailers, funders, government agencies, and advocacy organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie A. Hecht
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Megan M. Lott
- Healthy Eating Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (M.M.L.); (K.A.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Kirsten Arm
- Healthy Eating Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (M.M.L.); (K.A.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Mary T. Story
- Healthy Eating Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (M.M.L.); (K.A.); (M.T.S.)
| | - Emily Snyder
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC 20005, USA; (E.S.); (M.G.W.)
| | - Margo G. Wootan
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC 20005, USA; (E.S.); (M.G.W.)
| | - Alyssa J. Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
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