Neighbourhood deprivation and outlet density for tobacco, alcohol and fast food: first hints of obesogenic and addictive environments in Germany

Objective: The current discussion regarding ‘place effects on health’ is increasingly focusing on the characteristics of a specific physical environment. Our study investigated whether socially deprived residential areas are more likely than affluent neighbourhoods to provide access to addictive sub...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Schneider, Sven (Author) , Gruber, Johannes (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2013
In: Public health nutrition
Year: 2013, Volume: 16, Issue: 7, Pages: 1168-1177
ISSN:1475-2727
DOI:10.1017/S1368980012003321
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980012003321
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Author Notes:Sven Schneider and Johannes Gruber
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Summary:Objective: The current discussion regarding ‘place effects on health’ is increasingly focusing on the characteristics of a specific physical environment. Our study investigated whether socially deprived residential areas are more likely than affluent neighbourhoods to provide access to addictive substances and fast food. Design: In this ecological study the total number of tobacco, alcohol and fast-food outlets was recorded and visualized using a geographic information system. Area affluence was measured through the percentage of parents with children of kindergarten or school age with joint annual taxable income <€12 272. Setting: Eighteen social areas in Cologne, Germany. Subjects: All social areas in four districts in Cologne, Germany, with a total of 92 000 inhabitants, were analysed. Results: In the investigation area, 339 tobacco, 353 alcohol and sixty-seven fast-food outlets were identified. As area affluence declined the availability of the following potentially health damaging sources increased: cigarettes (Kendall's tau = 0·433; P = 0·012), alcohol (Kendall's tau = 0·341, P = 0·049) and fast food (Kendall's tau = 0·473; P = 0·009). Conclusions: The availability of addictive substances and fast food can be seen to have a contextual influence on an individual's lifestyle and can, in the form of physical exposure to obesogenic and addictive environments, contribute to a culmination of health risks.
Item Description:Published online: 10 July 2012
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Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1475-2727
DOI:10.1017/S1368980012003321