Matthew Hobbs1, Joreintje Dingena Mackenbach2, Jesse Wiki3, Lukas Marek3, Geraldine F H McLeod4, Joseph M Boden4. 1. School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury - Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand; GeoHealth Laboratory, University of Canterbury - Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand. Electronic address: matt.hobbs@canterbury.ac.nz. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands; Upstream Team, www.upstreamteam.nl, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 3. GeoHealth Laboratory, University of Canterbury - Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand. 4. Christchurch Health and Development Study, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While it is likely that changing food environments have contributed to the rise in obesity rates, very few studies have explored historical trends in the food environment with little, if any, consideration at a nationwide level. This longitudinal, nationwide, and geospatial study aims to examine change over time in proximity to food environments in all urban areas of New Zealand from 2005 to 2015. METHOD: This study used high quality food outlet data by area-level deprivation within the three largest urban areas of Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. We hypothesise that distance and travel time by car to supermarkets and fast-food outlets will have decreased over time with the most notable decreases in distance and time occuring in the most deprived areas of urban New Zealand. Change in major chain "fast-food" and "supermarket" outlets as identified by Territorial Authorities between 2005 and 2015 was analysed through the use of multilevel regression models. RESULTS: Findings show a decrease in distance and time to both fast-food outlets and supermarkets. The biggest decrease in distance for supermarkets was seen in the most deprived areas. CONCLUSION: Our findings contrast and add to previous evidence to demonstrate how changes in the food environment are not uniform, varying by area-level deprivation and by city with more equitable access to supermarkets occurring over time.
BACKGROUND: While it is likely that changing food environments have contributed to the rise in obesity rates, very few studies have explored historical trends in the food environment with little, if any, consideration at a nationwide level. This longitudinal, nationwide, and geospatial study aims to examine change over time in proximity to food environments in all urban areas of New Zealand from 2005 to 2015. METHOD: This study used high quality food outlet data by area-level deprivation within the three largest urban areas of Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. We hypothesise that distance and travel time by car to supermarkets and fast-food outlets will have decreased over time with the most notable decreases in distance and time occuring in the most deprived areas of urban New Zealand. Change in major chain "fast-food" and "supermarket" outlets as identified by Territorial Authorities between 2005 and 2015 was analysed through the use of multilevel regression models. RESULTS: Findings show a decrease in distance and time to both fast-food outlets and supermarkets. The biggest decrease in distance for supermarkets was seen in the most deprived areas. CONCLUSION: Our findings contrast and add to previous evidence to demonstrate how changes in the food environment are not uniform, varying by area-level deprivation and by city with more equitable access to supermarkets occurring over time.