CX 3 Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention APHA- Denver, CO, November 9, 2010 Presented by: Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH, RD Additional contributors: Valerie Quinn, MEd., Sharon Sugerman, MS, RD Access to fast food around schools: Exposures in California’s low-income neighborhoods This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California, with funding from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. In California, food stamps provide assistance to low-income households, and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For food stamp information, call For important nutrition information visit This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California, with funding from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. In California, food stamps provide assistance to low-income households, and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For food stamp information, call For important nutrition information visit This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California, with funding from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program). These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. In California, food stamps provide assistance to low-income households, and can help buy nutritious foods for better health. For food stamp information, call For important nutrition information visit This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California, with funding from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program).

Presenter Disclosures (1)The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH, RD No relationships to disclose

Fast Food in Close Proximity to Schools : Evidence Davis, et al. Proximity of Fast Food Restaurants to schools and Adolescent Obesity. Am J Public Health, –Links fast-food within a ½ mile of schools to higher BMI and poor dietary behaviors Simon, et al. Proximity of fast food restaurants to schools: Do neighborhood income and type of school matter? Preventive Med, Austin, et al. Clustering of fast-food restaurants around schools a novel application of spatial statistics to the study of food environments. Am J Public Health, Kwate, et al. Separate and unequal: the influence of neighborhood and school characteristics on spatial proximity between fast food and schools. Prev Med. 2010

Overweight and Obesity California Teens Aged (BMI ≥ 85th %ile p<.001), (BMI ≥ 85th %ile p<.01) (BMI ≥ 95th %ile p<.001), (BMI ≥ 85 th %ile p<.001) California Teen Eating, Exercise, and Nutrition Survey (CalTEENS) Trends

CalTEENS Comparison to National and other Statewide Data Obese (BMI ≥ 95 th percentile) CalTEENS 8%11%9%12%13%9% CHIS12% 14%13% YRBSS national 11% 12%13% 12% NHANES15%17% 18% Sex-and age-specific BMI ≥ 95th percentile based on the CDC growth charts Sources: -University of California Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research. California Health Interview Survey, Adolescent Survey AskCHIS internet data query system In. Los Angeles, CA. Accessed 9/28/10. -Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, Accessed on 9/28/ Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends Through by Cynthia Ogden, Ph.D., and Margaret Carroll, M.S.P.H., Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Fast Food and Soda Consumption Among Youth Ages % reported eating fast food at least once on a previous day (CalTEENS 2006) 46% of youth report eating fast food 2 or more times per week (CHIS 2007) 13% report 4 or more times each week (CHIS 2007) Nearly 9% reported eating fast food 2 or more times on a previous day (CHIS 2005) 26% drank 2 or more SSB’s per day, down from 31% on previous survey (CHIS 2005, 2007) 60-62% drank one or more SSB per day (CalTEENS 2006, CHIS 2005)

“ Back in the days when we first got a company airplane, we used to spot good locations for McDonald’s stores by flying over a community and looking for schools. Now we use a helicopter, and it’s ideal.” Ray Kroc, McDonald’s Corporation founder Reference: Ray Kroc, Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s, (Chicago, IL: Contemporary Books,1977), 176. – Found in: Corporate Accountability International’s, Clowning with Kids Health, The Case for Ronald McDonald’s Retirement. Accessed 9/30/10.

England Allows Ban FF Around Schools 400 Meter Exclusion Zone (aprox. = 1300 feet, ¼ mile, or 2 blocks) Study found that secondary schools have on average 23 junk food outlets in their neighborhoods, with some surrounded by 46

Documents the physical environment and encourages local action to change conditions to support individual behaviors Involves assessing communities in relation to a variety of obesity prevention benchmarks known as community indicators and assets Uses data to activate consumers and partners to improve food availability in low-income neighborhoods 3 = nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention CX 3 : Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention

CX 3 Data: Mapping Access to Supermarkets –Markets with >20 employees –½ mile service area –Transit to supermarkets Density of Fast Food –Fast food chain/not chain –Pizza –Deli Small Markets & C-Stores around schools Farmers Markets

CX 3 : Use of On-line Network GIS Map Viewer

CX 3 Data: Field Surveys Grocery stores and small markets –Different types of stores –Availability and quality of fruits and vegetables, other healthy foods –Fruit and vegetable prices –Marketing of healthy/unhealthy foods Fast food around schools –Availability of healthy options –Menu labeling –Marketing Outdoor marketing around schools

Alternative Food Sources –Community Supported Agriculture –Produce Stands –Community Gardens Emergency Food Sources Local Health Department Infrastructure Media Coverage CX 3 Data: Assessment/Tracking

CX 3 Sites 23 Network funded Local Health Departments All types: Urban dense, suburban, rural, remote More w/ other funding, including CA Regional Obesity Prevention Projects

3-7 low-income neighborhoods Each neighborhood comprised of 1-5 census tracts > 50% of population in census tract at or below 185% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Other selection factors School in Neighborhood Established partnerships Race/Ethnic make-up Rural and Urban (for some sites) Obesity rates (used by one site) CX 3 Neighborhood Selection

CX 3 Fast Food Outlets Fast Food Chain, Non-Chain, Pizza, Sandwich/Deli Quick service restaurants characterized by: –food ready to eat quickly after ordering –minimal service –where the customer pays for food prior to its consumption Number of outlets within 1000 ft and ½ mile to schools in neighborhood Proportion of schools with fast food outlets within 1000 ft and ½ mile Highest number of outlets for a school with fast food within 1000 ft and ½ mile (ie. worst case scenario)

Fast food around schools & parks ½ mile buffer

CX 3 GIS Findings- Fast Food Around Schools- From GIS Mapping 1000 ft (approx. 2 blocks) –49% had no fast food –30% had 1-2 fast food ½ Mile –only 11% had none –22% 10+ –Mean of 6 fast food

CX 3 Fast Food Surveys - Dataset 14 Local Health Departments (LHD) Surveys of Fast Food from 2008 & 2009 –Collected by either LHD staff, community members or youth with quality control methods 31 Neighborhoods –Most neighborhoods defined by 1-2 census tracts 44 Schools Reporting Fast Food in ½ mile –Sample of 34% Elementary, 21% Middle, 43% High, 2% Continuation 233 Fast Food Outlets –27% within 1000 ft (2 blocks) of school –23% visible from school

Number of Fast Food w/in ½ mile of Schools Mean of 5 fast food Worst case scenario: 22 fast food in ½ mile

Percent of Fast Food by School Type % % % %

FF Outlet Types Fast Food Chains: burgers, fried chicken/fish, taco/Mexican/Latino, fast Chinese, ≥ 6 locations Fast Food Non-Chain: same styles as Fast Food Chain, but < 6 locations Other: deli-non chain, café, hot dog stands, more than one style, etc.

Number and Type of Ads on Doors and Windows (1-2)(2-5)(3-9)(6+) 33% had large unhealthy ads 27% had ads on roof or walls 28% had ads elsewhere Due to aggregation of variables with ranges, categories are not mutually exclusive and are used as an indicator

Child-oriented Marketing 31% Fast Food had Toys in Kids Meals 15% FF had ads that were “kid oriented” Among FF with toys in kids meals

Nutrition Information & Labeling No outlets with calories on the menu board

Brochure or pamphlet of menu items near ordering counter (within 6 feet) minimum: Total calories Carbohydrates Saturated fat Sodium

Brochures/posters, often NOT near the point of purchase to inform decision making process

Implications More evidence documenting presence of fast food around schools Important for developing meaningful, targeted nutrition education Critical for understanding what kids are up against outside the school walls Can inform partnerships and policies Shows need for initiatives to reduce fast food and marketing of fast food around schools

Next Stepsfor CX 3 Under Development: A school score that examines environment within ½ mile boundary of school and includes –Retail food stores –Fast food –Outdoor marketing (1000 ft) –Mobile vending (500 ft) –Walkability and safety Food exposure scale that includes all opportunities for eating –Adding to current elements: donut shops, coffee shops, ice cream, specialty, etc. –Examine relationships with body composition of youth (FITNESSGRAM), income and school level

Thank you! Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH, RD Research Scientist Network for a Healthy California CA Dept. of Public Health Public Health Institute