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From Food Desert to Food Oasis: The Potential Influence of Food Retailers on Childhood Obesity Rates

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  • Elizabeth Howlett

    (University of Arkansas)

  • Cassandra Davis

    (University of Arkansas)

  • Scot Burton

    (University of Arkansas)

Abstract

Few studies have examined the influence of the food environment on obesity rates among very young, low-income consumers. This research contributes to this growing literature by examining the relationship between modifications to the retail environment and obesity rates for low-income, preschool-aged children. Based on data combined from various secondary sources, this study finds that changes in the retail environment are significantly related to obesity rates. More specifically, the authors find a positive relationship between the number of convenience stores in the retail environment and obesity rates among low-income, preschool-aged children. Results also show that the percent change in grocery stores and supercenters and club stores in the retail environment is negatively related to the obesity rates of low-income, preschool-aged children [i.e., as grocery stores and supercenters/club stores increase (decrease), obesity decreases (increases)].Further, the percent change in supercenters and club stores mediates the positive relationship between participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and obesity rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Howlett & Cassandra Davis & Scot Burton, 2016. "From Food Desert to Food Oasis: The Potential Influence of Food Retailers on Childhood Obesity Rates," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(2), pages 215-224, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:139:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2605-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2605-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. He Jin & Yongmei Lu, 2021. "Evaluating Consumer Nutrition Environment in Food Deserts and Food Swamps," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Benoit, Sabine & Altrichter, Birgit & Grewal, Dhruv & Ahlbom, Carl-Philip, 2024. "Autonomous stores: How levels of in-store automation affect store patronage," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 100(2), pages 217-238.
    3. Freire, Tiago & Rudkin, Simon, 2019. "Healthy food diversity and supermarket interventions: Evidence from the Seacroft Intervention Study," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 125-138.
    4. Castagna, Ana Carina & Pinto, Diego Costa & Mattila, Anna & de Barcellos, Marcia Dutra, 2021. "Beauty-is-good, ugly-is-risky: Food aesthetics bias and construal level," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 633-643.
    5. Michael S. Aßländer, 2020. "How to Overcome Structural Injustice? Social Connectedness and the Tenet of Subsidiarity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 719-732, March.

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