Density and type of food retailers surrounding Canadian schools: variations across socioeconomic status.

Lower socioeconomic status (SES) neighbourhoods may have differential access to food retailers, potentially explaining the varying area-level obesity rates. The food retail environment around 188 schools across Canada was examined, including full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, sub/sandwich retailers, donut/coffee shops, convenience stores, and grocery stores. School addresses were linked to census data to obtain area-level SES measures.

Association between the food retail environment surrounding schools and overweight in Canadian youth.

Introduction: There is growing interest in how the physical environment influences obesity. Few studies have considered how the food retail environment surrounding schools influences overweight in students.

Objective: To determine whether there is a relationship between food retailers surrounding schools and overweight among Canadian youth.