Journal Article

The Food Environment in 3 Neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, California: Access, Availability, Quality, and Marketing Practices

Derose, Kathryn P., Payán, Denise D., Williams, Malcolm V., Branch, Cheryl A., Flórez, Karen R.

2020

Overview

Two trained field workers visited all food sources, churches, parks, and schools in 3 neighborhoods (Neighborhood 1, Neighborhood 2, Neighborhood 3) in 2016 to collect data on food availability, quality of produce available in grocery stores and markets, and marketing; store food environment safety and walkability; fast food restaurants and school outdoor marketing environments; food banks and emergency food outlets; alternative food sources; and mobile vending. Examining the food environment as part of a faith-based obesity prevention project is important because churches have physical infrastructure, social networks, and other resources that could be leveraged for health promotion and advocacy. The authors also acknowledge the contributions of other research staff members (Jennifer Hawes-Dawson, Eunice C. Wong, Margaret Whitley), the California Department of Public Health (Lynn Fuhrman) for providing CX3 technical support, and members of the Community Steering Committee (especially the Reverend Michael A. Mata, the Reverend Dr Clyde W. Oden, the Reverend Rosalynn Brooks, the Reverend John Cager, the Reverend Walter Contreras, the Reverend Jawane Hilton, Jaime Huerta, the Reverend Martín García, Dr Jan King, the Reverend Felipe Martínez, Bishop Gwendolyn Stone, Nina Vaccaro, and Bishop Craig Worsham). Availability of Food Source Types, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Marketing, and Outdoor Advertising in 3 Low-Income Neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California, 2016{superscript]a Characteristic Neighborhood 1 Neighborhood 2 Neighborhood 3 Total Population 12,470 12,464 10,239 35,173 Population living ≤185% of the federal poverty level, no. (%) 8,106 (65) 6,481 (52) 5,631 (55) 20,218 (57.5) No. of census tracts, by food-security status No. of food-insecure census tracts 5 9 5 19 No. of food-secure census tracts 7 1 5 13 No. of schools 2 1 2 5 No. of parks 2 0 0 2 Brick-and-mortar food sources Supermarket chain or large grocery store 2 1 1 4 Small market or other market, including pharmacies 4 2 3 9 Convenience store 2 1 2 5 Fruit-and-vegetable stand 0 0 0 0 Restaurant (including fast food) 2 4 13 19 All 10 8 19 37 Emergency and alternative food source Food pantry 0 0 1 1 Mobile vendor (school){superscript]b 4 1 0 5 Mobile vendor (church){superscript]c 8 0 0 8 Farmers market 0 0 0 0 All 12 1 1 14 Index of unhealthy-to-healthy food sources{superscript]d 4 (8 to 2) 7

• Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subject: Animal behavior / Convenience stores / Food Insecurity / Food security / Food Security - standards / Grocery stores / Humans / Los Angeles / Marketing - standards / Multimedia / Obesity / Obesity - prevention & control / Poverty - statistics & numerical data / Residence Characteristics / Restaurants