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Journal article
Food availability and affordability in a Mediterranean urban context: Associations by store type and area-level socioeconomic status
Public health nutrition
24 Oct 2022
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
OBJECTIVEAlthough food environments have been highlighted as potentially effective targets to improve population diets, evidence on Mediterranean food environments is lacking. We examined differences in food availability and affordability in Madrid (Spain) by store type and area-level socioeconomic status. DESIGNCross-sectional study. Trained researchers conducted food store audits using the validated NEMS-S-MED tool to measure the availability and price of 12 food groups(specific foods=35). We computed NEMS-S-MED scores and summarized price data with a Relative Price Index (RPI, comparing prices across stores) and an Affordability Index (normalizing prices by area-level income). We compared availability and affordability of 'healthier-less healthy' food pairs, scores between food store types (supermarkets, specialized, convenience stores, and others) and area-level socioeconomic status using ANOVA and multilevel regression models. SETTINGCity of Madrid. 2016 and 2019 to cover a representative sample. PARTICIPANTSFood stores within a socioeconomically diverse sample of 63 census tracts (n=151). RESULTSSupermarkets had higher food availability (37.5/49 NEMS-S-MED points), compared to convenience stores(13.5/49), and specialized stores(8/49). Supermarkets offered lower prices (RPI: 0.83) than specialized stores(RPI: 0.97) and convenience stores(RPI: 2.06). Both 'healthy' and 'less healthy' items were more available in supermarkets. We found no differences in food availability or price by area-level socioeconomic status, but affordability was higher in higher-income areas. CONCLUSIONSSupermarkets offered higher food availability and affordability for healthy and less healthy food items. Promoting healthy food availability through supermarkets and specialized stores and/or limiting access to convenience stores are promising policy options to achieve a healthier food environment.
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Details
- Title
- Food availability and affordability in a Mediterranean urban context: Associations by store type and area-level socioeconomic status
- Creators
- Carlos Fernández-EscobarJulia DíezAlba Martínez-GarcíaUsama BilalMartin O'FlahertyManuel Franco
- Publication Details
- Public health nutrition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000884070300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85141251992
- Other Identifier
- 991019189176704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health