Availability of Healthy Food: Does Block Group Race and Income Matter?

Abstract

Grounded in community-based participatory research, this study assesses the food environment in a health-disparate city and determines whether differences exist in healthy food availability by block group race and income. Sixty stores and 124 restaurants were systematically audited using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS). The findings show low availability of healthy food options in low-income and predominately black block groups. Middle- to high-income white block groups had the highest availabilities of healthy items. Results will be disseminated through a community–academic partnership to prioritize future action.

Keywords:

• health status disparities
• community-based participatory research
• retail food environment
• built environment assessment
• rural

Notes

This work was funded in part by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.