Three Studies Examine Impact of Location on Dietary Choices, Stroke Risk

Two recent studies have reportedly examined the impact of location on the accessibility and quality of healthy food. Manuel Franco, et al., “Availability of Health Foods and Dietary Patterns: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2009. Manuel Franco, et al., “Neighborhood Characteristics and Availability of Healthy Foods in Baltimore,” American Journal of Preventative Medicine, December 2008. Researchers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University of Texas, and the University of Michigan apparently found that approximately 46 percent of lower-income neighborhoods in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland, had a low availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, skim milk, and whole wheat bread. The studies relied on information gleaned from 759 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and a systematic survey of 159 neighborhoods and 226 neighborhood stores in the Baltimore area. “Previous studies have suggested that race and income are related to healthy food intake and our choice of foods play a major role in our health and diet,” one study author was quoted as saying. “Our studies show that where you live is a major determinant of your health. The joint efforts of public health researchers in collaboration with community groups and policymakers will be required to effectively change the current picture of the less-than-optimal availability of recommended healthy foods.” See Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Press Release, February 25, 2009.

In a related development, a University of Michigan study presented before the 2009 International Stroke Conference has claimed that “the risk of stroke increases with the number of fast-food restaurants in a neighborhood.” The researchers identified 1,247 ischemic strokes reported to the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) between January 1, 2000, and June 2003. According to the study, “residents of neighborhoods with the highest number of fast-food restaurants had a 13 percent higher relative risk of suffering ischemic strokes than those living in areas with the lowest number of restaurants.” In addition, the authors concluded, “the relative risk of stroke increased 1 percent for each fast food restaurant in a neighborhood.” See University of Michigan Press Release, February 20, 2009.