Characterization of the School Neighborhood Food Environment in Three Mexican Cities

ABSTRACT

Food resources in school neighborhoods can negatively influence diet; however, this environment is understudied. This study characterized the school neighborhood food environment in Guadalajara (n=11), Puerto Vallarta (n=7), and Mexico City (n=14). Convenience stores, table-service restaurants, and taco stands were highly available in all three cities. Grocery stores were highly available in Mexico City school neighborhoods, yet less frequently observed in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Socioeconomic differences in food cart and grocery store availability were observed in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Policy and intervention strategies are needed to address the saturation of food resources in Mexico school neighborhoods.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• community health
• food environment
• food resources
• schools

Funding

The research was funded in part by a grant to Dr. Lévesque and Dr. Barquera (CIHR-GIR Grant #112693) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Population and Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada – Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Directorate. This research was also funded in part by the Garcia-Robles Fulbright Scholarship awarded to Dr. Rebecca Lee.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded in part by a grant to Dr. Lévesque and Dr. Barquera (CIHR-GIR Grant #112693) from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Population and Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada – Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Directorate. This research was also funded in part by the Garcia-Robles Fulbright Scholarship awarded to Dr. Rebecca Lee.