Scientific evidence consistently indicates that food consumption varies by place of residence, socio-economic status, gender and age[1].

The food environment includes availability and accessibility to food as well as food advertising and marketing.  The influence the food environment has on obesity has been explored through the availability and accessibility of ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ options, with a focus on energy-dense (high amounts of energy per amount of food) foods and drinks as well as increasing large portion sizes[2]. 

The spatial patterning of food outlets on eating behaviour is believed to be important[3, 4]. 

Over 30 years the food environment and eating behaviour has dramatically changed, at the same time, obesity rates have increased exponentially[5]. 

One change has been the decrease in smaller specialist shops and the rise of the one-stop supermarket.  The concept of food deserts (problem of access to food in some urban areas) has been linked to the growth in large out of town supermarkets [1, 4].  

Eating out has increased and accounts for 7.6% of our energy intake [6]. 

The cost of food is associated with food choice.  Energy dense foods containing added fats and sugar are more affordable than the healthier options of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and lean meats[7]. 

While good evidence for environmental influences on diet and obesity exist in the USA further work is required to explore this relationship in a European and UK context.

Lake AA, Townshend TG, Ogilvie JA

References

1. Wrigley, N., 'Food Deserts' in British Cities: Policy Context and Research Priorities. Urban Studies, 2002. 39(11): p. 2029-2040.
2. Swinburn, B. and G. Egger, Preventive strategies against weight gain and obesity. Obesity Reviews, 2002. 3(4): p. 289-301.
3. Austin, S.B., et al., Clustering of Fast-Food Restaurants Around Schools: A Novel Application of Spatial Statistics to the Study of Food Environments. American Journal of Public Health, 2005. 95(9): p. 1575-1581.
4. White, M., Food access and obesity. Obesity Reviews, 2007. 8(s1): p. 99-107.
5. Ledikwe, J.H., J.A. Ello-Martin, and B.J. Rolls, Portion Sizes and the Obesity Epidemic. The Journal of Nutrition, 2005. 135(4): p. 905-909.
6. National Statistics by DEFRA. Family Food in 2004-05.  2006  [cited 2006 26/5/06]; Available from: http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/efs/2005/complete.pdf.
7. Drewnowski, A. and N. Darmon, Food Choices and Diet Costs: an Economic Analysis. The Journal of Nutrition, 2005. 135(4): p. 900-904.

Further reading

1. Kim, D. and I. Kawachi, Food Taxation and Pricing Strategies to "Thin Out" the Obesity Epidemic. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2006. 30(5): p. 430-437.
2. Rayner, M. and P. Scarborough, The burden of food related ill health in the UK. J Epidemiol Community Health, 2005. 59(12): p. 1054-1057.
3. Jeffery, R.W., et al., Are fast food restaurants an environmental risk factor for obesity? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2006. 3(2): p. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-3-2. http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/3/1/2
4. Cummins, S.C.J., L. McKay, and S. MacIntyre, McDonald's Restaurants and Neighborhood Deprivation in Scotland and England. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2005. 29(4): p. 308-310.
5. Cummins, S. and S. Macintyre, Food environments and obesity--neighbourhood or nation? International Journal of Epidemiology, 2006. 35(1): p. 100-104.

Links

White, M., Food access and obesity. Obesity Reviews, 2007. 8(s1): p. 99-107. (OPEN ACCESS)
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00327.x

Wardle, J., Eating behaviour and obesity. Obesity Reviews, 2007. 8(s1): p. 73-75.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00322.x

Jebb, S.A., Dietary determinants of obesity. Obesity Reviews, 2007. 8(s1): p. 93-97.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00326.x

Macintyre, S., et al., Out-of-home food outlets and area deprivation: case study in Glasgow, UK. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2005. 2(1): p. 16.
http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/2/1/16

Hastings, G., et al., Review of Research in the Effects of Food Promotion to Children, prepared for the Food Standards Agency - Final Report. 2003, Centre for Social Marketing: Glasgow.
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/foodpromotiontochildren1.pdf

Harvey, J. Vending healthy drinks.  A Guide for Schools.  2004  [cited 2006 7/2/06]
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/vendingmachinebooklet.pdf

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