Published: January 2013

ID #: 66969

Journal: BMC Public Health

Authors: Sharkey JR, Dean WR, Nalty CC, Xu J

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This paper examines spatial access to retail food stores, including traditional (supercenters, supermarkets, grocery stores), convenience (convenience stores and food marts), and non-traditional (dollar stores, discount stores) stores, as well as food shopping habits, and nutrients available in household food supplies among 50 Mexican-origin families residing in Texas border colonias. Researchers found significantly greater access to convenience stores than any other type of food store. A greater distance to the nearest convenience store was associated with reduced household amounts of total energy, vitamin D, total sugar, added sugar, total fat, and saturated fat. Frequency of shopping at a traditional or non-traditional store were not associated with household food supplies; however, households in which the child purchased food from a convenience store on his/her own at least once a week had foods and beverages with increased amounts of total energy, fat, and saturated fat. Participation in the National School Lunch Program was associated with lower household levels of total energy, calcium, vitamin C, sodium, vitamin D, and saturated fats. These findings document that access and utilization of conveniences stores impact nutrient availability in household food supplies among limited-resource families living in Texas border colonias.

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