Food environments contributing to caloric overconsumption among African American children in Birmingham, AL: Caregiver perceptions

BACKGROUND: Social and environmental inequities in food environments may contribute to a greater burden of obesity among African American children. Targeted marketing of high caloric foods to African Americans have been recognized by researchers, but perceptions of community members have yet to be explored.

PURPOSE: To assess caregivers' perceptions of the food environments contributing to overconsumption of calories among African American children (ages 3-11). Collective knowledge gained can be used to facilitate critical dialogue between community members and policy makers to increase the demand for healthy food in African American communities.

METHODS: Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework, 30 community members participated in indepth interviews and a Photovoice project to document community concerns. Content analysis was used to summarize qualitative data.

RESULTS: Abundance of “junk food,” lack of healthy foods, and limited skill in preparing healthy foods were identified as primary contributors in the home environment. Outside of the home, high presence of marketing (in-store ads, billboards), limited products in food stores, and lack of full service grocers were implicated in the neighborhood environment. Actions to address these issues were proposed including social marketing, a moratorium on new fast food restaurants, and incentives for wholesale/discount stores to locate in these communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers perceive their home and neighborhood environments as contributing to the overconsumption of calories among young African American children. Communities armed with local data and action strategies can help galvanize the demand for healthy food and eliminate environmental inequities.