Associations between neighbourhood disadvantage and fruit and vegetable consumption in seven countries

Lamb, Karen

Associations between neighbourhood disadvantage and fruit and vegetable consumption in seven countries

Monday, 18 August 2014

Exhibit hall (Dena'ina Center)

Karen E Lamb, PhD , Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

Kylie Ball, PhD , Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

Nick Andrianopoulos, PhD , Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

Claudia Costa, MS , University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Nicoleta Cutumisu, PhD , University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Anne Ellaway, PhD , Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Carlijn Kamphuis, PhD , Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Graciela Mentz, PhD , University of Michigan, Michigan, MI

Jamie Pearce, PhD , University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Paula Santana, PhD , University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Amy J Schulz, PhD , University of Michigan, Michigan, MI

John Spence, PhD , University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Lukar E Thornton, PhD , Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

Frank van Lenthe, PhD , Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Shannon Zenk, PhD , University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

INTRODUCTION:

Low consumption of fruit and vegetables is a risk factor for poor health. Some studies have shown consumption varies across neighbourhoods, with lower intake in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. However, findings are far from consistent. Such inconsistencies suggest that socio-spatial inequities in diet may be context-specific, highlighting a need for international comparisons across contexts.

Our study examined variations in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults living in neighbourhoods of varying socioeconomic status (SES) across seven countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Netherlands, USA, Scotland, Portugal).

METHODS:

This study used data from seven existing studies with key variables assessed in adults from neighbourhoods of varying SES.

Data were harmonised and logistic regression was used to examine associations between neighbourhood SES and binary fruit and vegetable consumption separately, adjusting for neighbourhood clustering and age, gender and education.

RESULTS:

Analyses showed evidence of an association between neighbourhood SES and fruit consumption (p<0.05) in New Zealand, Canada and Scotland. Results showed increased odds of fruit intake in higher SES areas.

Results for vegetable intake were less consistent. In Australia, New Zealand and Canada, there was evidence of reduced odds of vegetable consumption for those residing in low SES areas, while in Portugal adults in the highest SES areas had lowest odds of consumption. The other studies showed no difference by SES.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study highlights that associations between diet and neighbourhood deprivation vary across countries. Neighbourhood environments have the potential to influence healthy behaviour and further research is required to examine the context in which these associations arise. It may be that differential access to resources in which this produce is available was a factor explaining the associations in this study. However, it is important to acknowledge discrepancies across the studies in terms of sampling, measures, and definitions of neighbourhoods, meaning we cannot draw strong conclusions.