The Spatial Accessibility of Fast food Restaurants and Convenience Stores in Relation to Neighborhood Schools

摘要

Differences in the local food environment are hypothesized to contribute to neighborhood disparities in obesity prevalence. We examined the density of and proximity to fast food restaurants and convenience stores according to levels of neighborhood median incomes in the city of Boston. We also examined the distribution of food stores in relation to Boston city schools. We used Geographic Information System to geocode fast food restaurant and convenience store addresses. Regression analyses were performed to test the association between Census tract and block-group median household income and food store distances and densities. All fast food restaurants and 98 % of convenience stores were geocoded successfully to a street address. Higher income neighborhoods had lower fast food restaurant density. Compared to schools in lower income neighborhoods, schools in higher income neighborhoods had fewer fast food restaurants and were further away from fast food restaurants and convenience stores. Fast food restaurants are more concentrated in lower income neighborhoods and near schools in lower income neighborhoods in Boston. Spatial inequities in food access have major policy and health implications, specifically related to lower income neighborhoods and schools. The close proximity of fast food restaurants and convenience stores to lower income schools expose children to unhealthy food options that may contribute to unhealthy eating and obesity in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.