A Spatial Analysis of the Food Environment and Overweight and Obesity Among Rhode Island Youth.

Background: This study examined how proximity to food sources differed at the block group and town level, stratified by socioeconomic risk, and how the average distance to a food source was associated with child overweight and obesity rates in Rhode Island.

Methods: Eight correlated variables from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey were used to measure high and low socioeconomic risk at the block group and town level. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between mean driving distance to food sources and prevalence of child overweight and obesity.

Results: All food sources were closer to residences in the high-risk group than the low-risk group at the block group and town level. Convenience stores, sit-down restaurants, and snack and beverage stores showed the largest associations with prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Conclusion: Efforts to better understand the food environment are needed to address overweight and obesity among youth.