Chatarra (junk food) and three urban Mexican foodscapes : Distinct neighborhood food environments and eating patterns in an upper-, middle-, and lower-income colonia in the Mazatlan metropolitan area

Background: Mexico ranks highest globally in incidence of childhood obesity and consumption of soft drinks. Environmental factors including the relative availability and prices of calorically dense foods and beverages compared to healthier options may influence eating habits. Purpose: In Mexican cities, colonias of different socioeconomic status (SES) often have distinct neighborhood food environments. This study examines how differences in access to various food options combined with SES differences influence consumption behaviors of adolescents and parents in 3 communities in Mazatlan. Methods: All of the sources of food and drink within a 1-km radius of 3 middle schools (of varying SES) were categorized and mapped. An in-depth analysis of food and drink options, prices, and marketing in a selection of each type of outlet was conducted. Repeated interviews with students and parents examined behaviors regarding food consumption and purchasing. Conclusions/Discussion: The lowest-income community had a much higher density of outlets for high-calorie snacks and drinks. The middle- and upper-income communities had a lower density of outlets for these items and more (and often cheaper) options for fresh produce and a higher density of restaurants. Overweight is a problem in all 3 communities, but eating behaviors differ. Middle- and upper-income families eat more fruit, but also more fast food. Poorer families eat little fresh produce, more packaged snacks, and an overabundance of the cheapest food options. These findings suggest that relative access to different food options, together with differences in education and income, call for locally-tailored obesity prevention strategies.