Purchases Made by Students in Corner Stores Near Urban Schools Contribute to Frequent Intake of High-Calorie, Low-Nutrition Foods
October 13, 2009
Purchases Made by Students in Corner Stores Near Urban Schools Contribute to Frequent Intake of High-Calorie, Low-Nutrition Foods
Purchases made in corner stores contribute significantly to energy intake among urban school children and may contribute to childhood obesity in minority and low-income communities, according to a study published in Pediatrics on October 12, 2009.  Researchers surveyed more than 800 students in grades 4 through 6 from 10 schools who made purchases from 24 corner stores in Philadelphia, PA. More than half (53.3%) of the participants reported shopping at corners stores every day, and another 21.9% reported shopping 2 to 4 times per week.  Students most often purchased chips, followed by candy and sugar-sweetened beverages.  A major finding of the study, Snacking in Children: The Role of Urban Corner Stores, is that with a little more than $1.00, students purchased 356 calories of snack foods. “Promoting items like water, single-serving snacks and fresh fruits are small changes that could yield a significant impact on the quantity and quality of children’s food intake,” said Sandy Sherman, Ed.D, study author and director of nutrition education at The Food Trust. Furthermore, obesity prevention efforts, as well as broader efforts to enhance dietary quality among children in urban settings, should include corner store environments proximal to schools.


See also:
Pediatrics - Snacking in Children: The Role of Urban Corner Stores, published online October 12, 2009

RWJF: Study Shows a Little Money Buys a Lot of Calories at City Corner Stores

CHHCS: Schools and Childhood Overweight