Department of Public Health, William Paterson University, University Hall 366, Wayne, NJ, 07470, USA.
Department of Mathematics, Lehman College, The City University of New York, New York, 10468, USA.
J Community Health. 2021 Oct;46(5):922-926. doi: 10.1007/s10900-021-00975-4. Epub 2021 Mar 12.
While genetic and hormonal factors likely play a role in the development of obesity, lifestyle issues such as diet and physical activity are main contributors. Lifestyle issues are largely influenced by environmental factors, which pertain not only to access and availability, but exposure to opportunities for unplanned food and beverage purchases. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent to which candy, snack foods, and sugary beverages are available in checkout lines in a convenience sample retail chain stores in NYC that sell products for children. Non-probability, convenience sampling was used to select a total of 22 stores to visit in person. All stores were visited and the checkout lines were observed, capturing both the checkout style (single lane versus multiple lane; corralled or non-corralled), and the products (if any) being sold. Of the 22 stores surveyed, 17 (77.27%) sold at least one convenience food (candy and snacks), and/or sugary beverages. Among the stores that sell convenience food, nearly all (82.35%) sell candy, 100% of those with no corral-style line and 76.92% of those using a corral-style line. The findings from this study concur with prior research indicating that non-nutritious food items and sugary beverages have a presence at checkout areas of retail stores, thus driving the possibility for impulse buys. Exposure to messaging and ques are potentially influential on public health, and should be a point of reflection in terms of the kinds of policies that can support or hinder public health.
虽然遗传和激素因素可能在肥胖的发展中起作用，但饮食和身体活动等生活方式问题是主要原因。生活方式问题在很大程度上受环境因素影响，这些因素不仅涉及获取和可用性，还涉及到接触计划外购买食品和饮料的机会。本研究的目的是描述在纽约市一家销售儿童产品的便利连锁零售店的结账通道中，糖果、零食和含糖饮料的供应程度。采用非概率便利抽样方法选择了总共 22 家商店进行实地访问。所有商店都进行了访问，并观察了结账通道，记录了结账方式（单通道与多通道；有围栏或无围栏）和销售的产品（如果有）。在所调查的 22 家商店中，有 17 家（77.27%）至少销售一种方便食品（糖果和零食）和/或含糖饮料。在销售方便食品的商店中，几乎所有（82.35%）都销售糖果，无围栏式结账通道的商店 100%销售糖果，而使用围栏式结账通道的商店有 76.92%销售糖果。本研究的结果与先前的研究一致，表明非营养食品和含糖饮料在零售商店的结账区存在，从而增加了冲动购买的可能性。接触信息和提示可能对公共卫生有潜在影响，应该考虑制定能够支持或阻碍公共卫生的政策。
