BACKGROUND: Young adulthood is a critical age for weight gain, yet scant research has examined modifiable contextual influences on weight that could inform age-appropriate interventions. PURPOSE: The aims of this research included describing where young adults eat and purchase food, including distance from home, and estimating the percentage of eating/purchasing locations contained within GIS-generated buffers traditionally used in research. METHODS: Forty-eight participants (aged 18-23 years, n=27 women) represented diverse lifestyle groups. Participants logged characteristics of all eating/drinking occasions (including location) occurring over 7 days (n=1237) using PDAs. In addition, they recorded addresses for stores where they purchased food to bring home. Using GIS, estimates were made of distances between participants' homes and eating/purchasing locations. Data collection occurred in 2008-2009 and data analysis occurred in 2010. RESULTS: Among participants living independently or with family (n=36), 59.1% of eating occasions were at home. Away-from-home eating locations averaged 6.7 miles from home; food-shopping locations averaged 3.1 miles from home. Only 12% of away-from-home eating occasions fell within -mile residential buffers, versus 17% within 1 mile and 34% within 2 miles. In addition, 12%, 19%, and 58% of shopping trips fell within these buffers, respectively. Results were similar for participants residing in dormitories. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults often purchase and eat food outside of commonly used GIS-generated buffers around their homes. This suggests the need for a broader understanding of their food environments.
BACKGROUND: Young adulthood is a critical age for weight gain, yet scant research has examined modifiable contextual influences on weight that could inform age-appropriate interventions. PURPOSE: The aims of this research included describing where young adults eat and purchase food, including distance from home, and estimating the percentage of eating/purchasing locations contained within GIS-generated buffers traditionally used in research. METHODS: Forty-eight participants (aged 18-23 years, n=27 women) represented diverse lifestyle groups. Participants logged characteristics of all eating/drinking occasions (including location) occurring over 7 days (n=1237) using PDAs. In addition, they recorded addresses for stores where they purchased food to bring home. Using GIS, estimates were made of distances between participants' homes and eating/purchasing locations. Data collection occurred in 2008-2009 and data analysis occurred in 2010. RESULTS: Among participants living independently or with family (n=36), 59.1% of eating occasions were at home. Away-from-home eating locations averaged 6.7 miles from home; food-shopping locations averaged 3.1 miles from home. Only 12% of away-from-home eating occasions fell within -mile residential buffers, versus 17% within 1 mile and 34% within 2 miles. In addition, 12%, 19%, and 58% of shopping trips fell within these buffers, respectively. Results were similar for participants residing in dormitories. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults often purchase and eat food outside of commonly used GIS-generated buffers around their homes. This suggests the need for a broader understanding of their food environments.
Authors: Lisa M Powell; M Christopher Auld; Frank J Chaloupka; Patrick M O'Malley; Lloyd D Johnston Journal: Adv Health Econ Health Serv Res Date: 2007
Authors: Amy H Auchincloss; Ana V Diez Roux; Daniel G Brown; Christine A Erdmann; Alain G Bertoni Journal: Epidemiology Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 4.822
Authors: Russell Jago; Tom Baranowski; Janice C Baranowski; Karen W Cullen; Debbe Thompson Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2007-09-13 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Kelsey McDonald; Mary Hearst; Kian Farbakhsh; Carrie Patnode; Ann Forsyth; John Sirard; Leslie Lytle Journal: Health Place Date: 2011-09-22 Impact factor: 4.078
Authors: Angela D Liese; Bethany A Bell; Timothy L Barnes; Natalie Colabianchi; James D Hibbert; Christine E Blake; Darcy A Freedman Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2013-11-06 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Andrea L Deierlein; Maida P Galvez; Irene H Yen; Susan M Pinney; Frank M Biro; Lawrence H Kushi; Susan Teitelbaum; Mary S Wolff Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2014-05-12 Impact factor: 4.022