Obesogenic and youth oriented restaurant marketing in public housing neighborhoods.

Objectives: To compare restaurant marketing by restaurant and neighborhood type.

Methods: All restaurants (61=fast food, FF; 72=table service, TS) within an 800-meter radius of 13 public housing developments (HD) and 4 comparison neighborhoods were audited using the Restaurant Assessment Tool©2010. HD neighborhoods were lower income and higher minority than comparison neighborhoods with similar density and street connectivity.

Results: Restaurants in HD neighborhoods had fewer healthy entrées than comparison neighborhoods. FF restaurants had cheaper beverages and more children's meals, supersize drinks, free prize with purchase, super-size items, special characters, and more items geared to driving than TS restaurants.

Conclusions: Residents of lower socioeconomic neighborhoods may be differentially exposed to unhealthy food options.