Ambiente alimentar em Juiz de Fora: um enfoque no território das escolas

Abstract

Recent approaches to the obesity epidemic have considered the role of the environment in increasing consumption of unhealthy foods and reducing physical activity. The aim of this study has been to examine how the distribution of food stores and other environmental and socioeconomic factors may affect obesogenicity, with special attention to the distribution of food traders around schools. The study examined the food environment and socioeconomic characteristics in the urban regions and the areas surrounding schools in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. An ecological study was used to investigate the city’s food environment. Thematic maps and neighborhood clusters were developed. An audit of supermarkets and hypermarkets mas made. 500 meters surrounding schools areas buffers were examined. Univariate and bivariate K functions were used to evaluate the food stores’ distribution. In 25 (30.86%) socio-economically deprived neighborhoods unhealthy establishments were much more common. The centre of the city was most concentrated in all types of establishment, whereas the most deprived areas resembled food deserts. There was more opportunity to buy and consume healthy foods in supermarkets and hypermarkets located in regions of higher socio-economic status. Examination of the areas around schools showed a pattern of low densities of all types of food establishments in regions of low socio-economic status and high densities in regions of high socio-economic status, but, higher densities of establishments selling unhealthy food were found around all schools. This indicates that schools attract food stores in their surroundings. The low quality of food environments around schools in Juiz de Fora shows an urgent need to regulate these spaces, to enable and encourage stores selling healthy food. Socio-economic and environmental inequities reinforce the need to implement public policies that promote a healthy food environment throughout the city and its urban areas.