Ecological and socioeconomic correlates of fruit, juice, and vegetable consumption among African-American boys

Background: Investigators have reported that the availability of foods in local grocery stores correlated with consumption when using large geopolitical units of analysis, e.g., zip codes. Associations across smaller geopolitical units, e.g., census tracts, have not been tested, nor has this work focused on restaurant availability, child consumption, or specific ethnic groups.

Methods: This study examined whether median family income and fruit, juice, and vegetable (FJV) availability in grocery stores, restaurants, and homes in 11 census tracts correlated with FJV consumption among 11- to 14-year-old African-American Boy Scouts. FJV consumption was measured in 90 scouts using two 24-h food recalls. Instruments were developed to measure the availability of FJV at area grocery stores, restaurants, and homes where troop members resided.

Results: Median household income (from 1990 census) was significantly correlated with restaurant fruit availability. Significant correlations were found between restaurant juice and vegetable availability and Boy Scout reported consumption of juice and vegetables.

Conclusion: Census tract may be a useful unit when studying restaurant, but not grocery store, FJV availability. Within a census tract, restaurant FJV availability may be a significant target for community intervention and process evaluation.