The Impact of a Grocery Store Closure in One Rural Highly Obese Appalachian Community on Shopping Behavior and Dietary Intake

Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, Stacey Slone, Kathryn Cardarelli and Alison Gustafson
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Rachel Gillespie: Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, College of Agriculture, Food & Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Emily DeWitt: Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, College of Agriculture, Food & Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Stacey Slone: Dr. Bing Zhang Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Kathryn Cardarelli: Department of Health, Behavior & Society, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Alison Gustafson: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Food & Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Research has examined how the entry of grocery stores into neighborhoods influences dietary outcomes, yet limited evidence suggests a direct correlation between opening a store and changes in dietary intake. A factor that might influence individuals’ behavior more directly is the closing of a grocery store where residents shop. This study aims to examine how a grocery closure in a rural Appalachian high poverty county is associated with dietary intake. A cohort of n = 152 individuals were recruited to participate in a longitudinal study examining purchasing habits and dietary intake. At time point two, one year later, n = 74 individuals completed the survey via phone. Results indicate those that switched from shopping at a local grocery store to a supercenter significantly increased their dietary intake of fruit (0.2 ± 0.8), fruits and vegetables (1.4 ± 2.7), alcohol (grams) (17.3 ± 54.1), and tomato sauce (0.1 ± 0.3). A local grocery store closure was associated with a change in shopping behavior and dietary intake. Community-level interventions targeting dietary behaviors must account for neighborhood food environment influences, including grocery store availability. Policy aimed at improving food access in rural communities need to consider approaches to improving a variety of food venues with affordable healthy food, while addressing the evolving grocery shopping behaviors of consumers.

Keywords: food environment; rural; obesity; grocery shopping; behavior change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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