Clustering of fast-food restaurants around schools: a novel application of spatial statistics to the study of food environments.
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| Title: | Clustering of fast-food restaurants around schools: a novel application of spatial statistics to the study of food environments. |
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| Authors: | Austin SB (AUTHOR), Melly SJ (AUTHOR), Sanchez BN (AUTHOR), Patel A (AUTHOR), Buka S (AUTHOR), Gortmaker SL (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | American Journal of Public Health. Sep2005, Vol. 95 Issue 9, p1575-1581. 7p. |
| Subjects: | Fast food restaurants, School food, Child nutrition, Convenience foods |
| Geographic Terms: | Chicago (Ill.), Illinois |
| Abstract: | OBJECTIVES: We examined the concentration of fast food restaurants in areas proximal to schools to characterize school neighborhood food environments. METHODS: secondary schools in Chicago. We used the bivariate K function statistical method to quantify the degree of clustering (spatial dependence) of fast-food restaurants around school locations. RESULTS: The median distance from any school in Chicago to the nearest fast-food restaurant was 0.52 km, a distance that an adult can walk in little more than 5 minutes, and 78% of schools had at least 1 fast-food restaurant within 800 m. Fast-food restaurants were statistically significantly clustered in areas within a short walking distance from schools, with an estimated 3 to 4 times as many fast-food restaurants within 1.5 km from schools than would be expected if the restaurants were distributed throughout the city in a way unrelated to school locations. CONCLUSIONS: Fast-food restaurants are concentrated within a short walking distance from schools, exposing children to poor-quality food environments in their school neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | OBJECTIVES: We examined the concentration of fast food restaurants in areas proximal to schools to characterize school neighborhood food environments. METHODS: secondary schools in Chicago. We used the bivariate K function statistical method to quantify the degree of clustering (spatial dependence) of fast-food restaurants around school locations. RESULTS: The median distance from any school in Chicago to the nearest fast-food restaurant was 0.52 km, a distance that an adult can walk in little more than 5 minutes, and 78% of schools had at least 1 fast-food restaurant within 800 m. Fast-food restaurants were statistically significantly clustered in areas within a short walking distance from schools, with an estimated 3 to 4 times as many fast-food restaurants within 1.5 km from schools than would be expected if the restaurants were distributed throughout the city in a way unrelated to school locations. CONCLUSIONS: Fast-food restaurants are concentrated within a short walking distance from schools, exposing children to poor-quality food environments in their school neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00900036 |
| DOI: | 10.2105/AJPH.2004.056341 |
