Disparities in healthy food zoning, farmers' market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption among North Carolina residents

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Mariel Leah Mayo,Jilcott Pitts,Stephanie Bell,Ward,Rachel Acheson (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Background: Context and purpose of the study. To examine (1) associations between county-level zoning to supportfarmers" market placement and county-level farmers" market availability, rural/urban designation, percent AfricanAmerican residents, and percent of residents living below poverty and (2) individual-level associations between zoningto support farmers" markets; fruit and vegetable consumption and body mass index (BMI) among a random sample ofresidents of six North Carolina (NC) counties.Methods: Zoning ordinances were scored to indicate supportiveness for healthy food outlets. Number of farmers"markets (per capita) was obtained from the NC-Community Transformation Grant Project Fruit and Vegetable OutletInventory (2013). County-level census data on rural/urban status, percent African American, and percent poverty wereobtained. For data on farmers" market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and BMI, trained interviewersconducted a random digit dial telephone survey of residents of six NC counties (3 urban and 3 rural). Pearsoncorrelation coefficients and multilevel linear regression models were used to examine county-level and individual-levelassociations between zoning supportiveness, farmers" market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumptionand BMI.Results: At the county-level, healthier food zoning was greater in more urban areas and areas with less poverty.At the individual-level, self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with healthier food zoning.Conclusions: Disparities in zoning to promote healthy eating should be further examined, and future studiesshould assess whether amending zoning ordinances will lead to greater availability of healthy foods and changesin dietary behavior and health outcomes.

Additional Information

Publication

Other

Language: English

Date: 2015

Keywords

Disparities, Farmers-™ market, Zoning ordinance

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