Childhood obesity and neighborhood food-store availability in an inner-city community.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Prior studies have shown an association between fast-food restaurants and adolescent body size. Less is known about the influence of neighborhood food stores on a child's body size. We hypothesized that in the inner-city, minority community of East Harlem, New York, the presence of convenience stores and fast-food restaurants near a child's home is associated with increased risk for childhood obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI).

Design

Baseline data of 6- to 8-year-old East Harlem boys and girls (N=323) were used. Anthropometry (height and weight) was conducted with a standardized protocol. Food-store data were collected via a walking survey. Stores located within the same census block as the child's home address were identified by using ArcGIS 8.3. We com

SUBMITTER: Galvez MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2770899 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature