Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To characterise neighbourhood food environments in British Columbia (BC) and determine whether food environment characteristics are associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using geospatial linkage of food environment measures within 1 km residential buffers, analysed with mixed-effects models SETTING: Urban neighbourhoods in BC, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 25 000 adults aged 35-69 years from the BC Generations Project cohort. OUTCOME MEASURES: FV intake as a continuous variable (servings/day) and as a binary measure (<5 or ≥5 servings/day). RESULTS: Approximately 50% of participants lived in neighbourhoods without chain grocery stores, fast-food outlets or convenience stores within walking distance. Neighbourhoods in the highest density category for fast-food outlets were associated with lower odds of consuming ≥5 servings of FV per day (OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.98). Associations between chain grocery stores, convenience stores and FV intake were attenuated after adjusting for neighbourhood characteristics including walkability, and material and social deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest limited neighbourhood access to retail food outlets across urban areas in BC. Participants living in neighbourhoods with greater density of fast-food restaurants were less likely to consume >5 servings of FV per day. Further studies are needed to better understand the null findings and additional factors that may be associated with dietary intake.