Measurement of nutrition environments in grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants in the Lower Mississippi Delta

Authors: Thomson, Jessica; Goodman, Melissa; LANDRY, ALICIA - University Of Central Arkansas

Submitted to: Preventing Chronic Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2019
Publication Date: 3/12/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6949579
Citation: Thomson, J.L., Goodman, M.H., Landry, A.S. 2020. Measurement of nutrition environments in grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Preventing Chronic Disease. 17/190293. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190293.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190293

Interpretive Summary: The Lower Mississippi Delta region is characterized by low education, high rates of obesity and poverty, and majority African American population, factors associated with low diet quality. In order to better understand the poor dietary habits of pregnant women and their infants who participated in a diet and physical activity intervention, the local nutrition environments of the participants’ communities were measured. Grocery stores, convenience stores, and full service and fast food restaurants located in 5 Lower Mississippi Delta towns were measured using tools designed to assess nutrition environments in these types of food outlets. Measurement scores were converted to percentages of the maximum score possible and tested for differences among the food outlets. On average, grocery stores achieved 54% of maximum points possible, significantly higher than full service restaurants (21%), convenience stores (16%), and fast food restaurants (8%). Within different types of fast food restaurants, stand-alone restaurants achieved 19% of maximum points possible, significantly higher than grocery store delicatessens (6%), corner stores that sold fast food (3%), and gas stations that sold fast food (4%). These 5 towns scored low on nutrition environment features associated with healthful eating. Behavioral intervention designed to improve the dietary habits of rural residents are needed. However, assessment of nutrition environments prior to conducting dietary interventions in rural communities is necessary to first ascertain if environmental supports that facilitate healthful eating are present.

Technical Abstract: Introduction: The Lower Mississippi Delta is characterized by several factors associated with poor diet quality. Our objective was to measure local nutrition environments of pregnant women and their infants who participated in a nutrition and physical activity intervention in order to better understand their poor dietary habits. Methods: Nutrition environments of 5 towns in which participants resided were measured using Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for grocery stores, convenience stores, and full service and fast food restaurants. General linear models were used to test for ratio score differences among food outlet classes and subclasses. Results: Nutrition Environment Measures Survey mean total ratio scores among 4 classes of food outlets were significantly different from one another except for convenience stores and full service restaurants. On average, grocery stores (n=11) achieved 54% of maximum points possible, followed by full service restaurants (21%; n=50), convenience stores (16%; n=86), and fast food restaurants (8%; n=119). Significant differences were not found for mean total ratio scores among convenience store subclasses. For fast food restaurant subclasses, stand-alone restaurants (n=81) achieved 19% of maximum points possible, significantly higher than grocery store delicatessens (6%; n=8), corner stores that sold fast food (3%; n=5), and gas stations that sold fast food (4%; n=25). Conclusion: These 5 Lower Mississippi Delta towns scored low on nutrition environment measures associated with healthful eating. Behavioral interventions designed to affect positive changes in dietary habits of rural residents are needed; however, effects may be minimal if environmental factors supportive of healthful eating are not available.