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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

John D. Prochaska, MPH¹, Joseph R. Sharkey, PhD MPH RD¹, Marcia Gail Ory, PhD, MPH², James N. Burdine, DrPH³, Iary Garcia, MSEd¹, and Scott Horel, MA⁴. (1) Texas Healthy Aging Research Network (TxHAN) Center, School of Rural Public Health, MS 1266, College Station, TX 77843-1266, 979-845-5788, jdprochaska@srph.tamhsc.edu, (2) Prevention Research Center, Texas A&M University System, School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266, (3) Center for Community Health Development, School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266, (4) GIS Lab, School of Rural Public Health, MS 1266, College Station, TX 77843-1266

Background

Dietary recommendations for older adults emphasize fruit and vegetable consumption as a significant component of a healthy diet. Environmental factors, such as access to fresh produce, may influence food choice and consumption. However, the food environment is rarely assessed, especially in rural settings with older adults.

Methods

Data assessing the food environment were collected in five rural Central Texas counties, using systematic “drive-arounds” to identify, geocode, and classify all food stores and food service places. The density of grocery stores per 10,000 people per county was calculated. These data were merged with data from a previously conducted community health survey in the same rural area. Self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption was regressed on grocery store density, controlling for socio-demographic variables and previous physician-patient discussion about diet or weight during the past two years.

Results

There was an average of 2.76 grocery stores per 10,000 people (range 1.19-3.72). Secondary data were available for 159 rural adults aged 50 and older, who consumed an average of 3.72 (±1.73) servings of fruits and vegetables daily. After controlling for race/ethnicity, marital status, education, household income, and physician discussion, grocery store density was significantly related to increased self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption (p=0.042).

Conclusion

This suggests that the food environment may play a significant role in dietary intake among rural older adults. Additional study is warranted to understand better how the food environment influences food choice and intake.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of the food environment on healthy aging
• Identify methods of evaluating the food environment

Keywords: Aging, Environment

Awards: Excellence in Aging and Rural Health - Honorable Mention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No