Longitudinal association between density of retail food stores and body mass index in Mexican school children and adolescents
Authors' conclusion
The availability of fruit/vegetable stores may influence a reduction in children and adolescents BMI. These results indicate that policy approaches could be tailored by type of food store - with some consideration for level of urbanization and children's age.
Study context
- Population
- Mexican children and adolescents aged 5–19 years, Mexican Family Life Survey 2002–2012; food store density from Economic Censuses 1999, 2004 and 2009
- Participants
- 7,507 children
- Exposure
- Change in municipal-level density of retail food stores vs change in body mass index (BMI)
- Outcome
- Change in BMI
Methodological detailslinear fixed-effects regression models, stratified by urbanization, adjusted for age, parental education, municipal-level socioeconomic deprivation and population density
- Linear fixed-effects regression models
- Stratified by urbanization
- Adjusted for age, parental education, municipal-level socioeconomic deprivation and population density
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BMI by fruit/vegetable store density quartile
Fruit/vegetable store density, second quartile: β
−0.455 kg/m²
Fruit/vegetable store density, third quartile: β
−0.733 kg/m²
Fruit/vegetable store density, fourth quartile: β
−0.838 kg/m²
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
BMI by small food retail store density, non-urban areas
- Highest density of small food retail stores: β
- −0.840 kg/m²
BMI by specialty food store density, urban areas
kg/m²
- Third quartile: β
- −0.789
- Fourth quartile: β
- −1.204
Associations by age
- Dynamic associations with age; stronger associations in adolescents
Original publication
Longitudinal association between density of retail food stores and body mass index in Mexican school children and adolescents. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 15 February 2023. doi:10.
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