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Li, Yannan

University of British Columbia

Canadians have been reported to have poor dietary intake, with a high consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF), which are energy-dense foods that are typically industrially formulated and contain high levels of added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat while offering minimal nutritional value. UPF is a major contributor to chronic diseases and inversely correlated with overall diet quality. While individual-level factors influencing diet are well-documented, the role of neighborhood characteristics in shaping dietary intake remains underexplored. The retail food environment (RFE), mainly referring to where people can purchase food (e.g., supermarkets), is one such neighborhood-level factor that may affect dietary intake. This research aimed to characterize dietary intake of a contemporary cohort of British Columbians and examine the associations between features of RFE and UPF onsumption, accounting for neighbourhood level characteristics. Using data from BC Generations Project and its sub-study, with a linkage to the Canadian Food Environment Dataset (Can-FED) and Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE), this research assessed dietary intake via a validated past year food frequency questionnaire and measured the RFE through absolute and relative densities of food outlets within 1-km radius of participants' residences. UPF intake was classified using the NOVA system and expressed as energy per 1,000 kcal/day. Findings showed that UPFs accounted for about 38% of the daily energy intake among 2,586 cohort participants, with nutrient profiles characterized by high saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, and insufficient fiber, calcium, and vitamin D. Living in areas with higher densities of fast-food outlets was significantly associated with greater UPF intake, after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), education, annual household income, and neighbourhood level characteristics including walkability, marginalization status, and urban sprawl. Additionally, the ecological analysis of the RFE across census subdivisions in BC revealed substantial regional variation in access to different food outlets. This research underscores that dietary intake is not solely an individual choice but is shaped by neighbourhood-level factors. The findings highlight the need for public health interventions and urban planning strategies that limit the overconcentration of fast-food outlets, aiming to support healthier dietary patterns and reduce diet-related chronic disease risk in British Columbia.

Text

2025-05-29

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/91230

Population and Public Health

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/