The Experts below are selected from a list of 16698 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Kelly D Brownell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017Co-Authors: Kristen Cooksey-stowers, Marlene B Schwartz, Kelly D BrownellAbstract:This paper investigates the effect of food environments, characterized as food Swamps, on adult obesity rates. Food Swamps have been described as areas with a high-density of establishments selling high-calorie fast food and junk food, relative to healthier food options. This study examines multiple ways of categorizing food environments as food Swamps and food deserts, including alternate versions of the Retail Food Environment Index. We merged food outlet, sociodemographic and obesity data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Environment Atlas, the American Community Survey, and a commercial street reference dataset. We employed an instrumental variables (IV) strategy to correct for the endogeneity of food environments (i.e., that individuals self-select into neighborhoods and may consider food availability in their decision). Our results suggest that the presence of a food swamp is a stronger predictor of obesity rates than the absence of full-service grocery stores. We found, even after controlling for food desert effects, food Swamps have a positive, statistically significant effect on adult obesity rates. All three food swamp measures indicated the same positive association, but reflected different magnitudes of the food swamp effect on rates of adult obesity (p values ranged from 0.00 to 0.16). Our adjustment for reverse causality, using an IV approach, revealed a stronger effect of food Swamps than would have been obtained by naive ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates. The food swamp effect was stronger in counties with greater income inequality (p < 0.05) and where residents are less mobile (p < 0.01). Based on these findings, local government policies such as zoning laws simultaneously restricting access to unhealthy food outlets and incentivizing healthy food retailers to locate in underserved neighborhoods warrant consideration as strategies to increase health equity.
Peter B Banks - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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predicting the occurrence of the quokka setonix brachyurus macropodidae marsupialia in western australia s northern jarrah forest
Wildlife Research, 2007Co-Authors: Matt W Hayward, Paul J De Tores, Michael J Dillon, Peter B BanksAbstract:The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a medium-sized, macropodid marsupial that is endemic to south-western Australia. It has declined markedly in its distribution and abundance since the early 1930s and is listed as vulnerable under IUCN criteria. The presence or absence of quokka populations at 66 sites in the northern jarrah forest of Australia was investigated using generalised linear models (GLM). We hypothesised that fox control and the presence of a mosaic of post-fire seral stages within Agonis linearifolia swamp vegetation were important in predicting the presence of quokkas. The number of poison meat baits delivered per hectare, the average number of years since the Swamps burnt and the number of post-fire age classes within the Swamps (mosaic value) were used as explanatory variables. Two models had substantial support (ΔAICc 19 years since fire) are essential for its conservation.
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home range and movements of the quokka setonix brachyurus macropodidae marsupialia and its impact on the viability of the metapopulation on the australian mainland
Journal of Zoology, 2004Co-Authors: Matt W Hayward, Paul J De Tores, Michael L Augee, Barry J Fox, Peter B BanksAbstract:The home range and movements of the quokka Setonix brachyurus, a medium-sized macropodid marsupial, were investigated using radio telemetry. Fifty-eight quokkas from five remnant mainland populations in the northern jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia were radio-collared and monitored for up to 2 years between 1998 and 2000. Mean (± SE) home-range sizes were 6.39 ± 0.77 ha and core ranges averaged 1.21 ± 0.12 ha. Male core home ranges were larger than those of females although not when corrected for body mass. Nocturnal ranges were larger than diurnal owing to nocturnal departures from the swamp. Ranges shifted to the edge of Swamps in winter, as the Swamps became inundated following rain, and toward the centre in autumn as the Swamps dried. Quokka populations are thought to exist below carrying capacity at all sites and this probably caused the lack of dispersal observed in this study. We hypothesize that predation is suppressing population booms which would otherwise drive dispersal and thereby maintain metapopulation dynamics. Without dispersal to rescue unpopulated patches, we conclude that the original quokka metapopulation has collapsed and ameliatory measures are required.
Kristen Cooksey-stowers - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017Co-Authors: Kristen Cooksey-stowers, Marlene B Schwartz, Kelly D BrownellAbstract:This paper investigates the effect of food environments, characterized as food Swamps, on adult obesity rates. Food Swamps have been described as areas with a high-density of establishments selling high-calorie fast food and junk food, relative to healthier food options. This study examines multiple ways of categorizing food environments as food Swamps and food deserts, including alternate versions of the Retail Food Environment Index. We merged food outlet, sociodemographic and obesity data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Environment Atlas, the American Community Survey, and a commercial street reference dataset. We employed an instrumental variables (IV) strategy to correct for the endogeneity of food environments (i.e., that individuals self-select into neighborhoods and may consider food availability in their decision). Our results suggest that the presence of a food swamp is a stronger predictor of obesity rates than the absence of full-service grocery stores. We found, even after controlling for food desert effects, food Swamps have a positive, statistically significant effect on adult obesity rates. All three food swamp measures indicated the same positive association, but reflected different magnitudes of the food swamp effect on rates of adult obesity (p values ranged from 0.00 to 0.16). Our adjustment for reverse causality, using an IV approach, revealed a stronger effect of food Swamps than would have been obtained by naive ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates. The food swamp effect was stronger in counties with greater income inequality (p < 0.05) and where residents are less mobile (p < 0.01). Based on these findings, local government policies such as zoning laws simultaneously restricting access to unhealthy food outlets and incentivizing healthy food retailers to locate in underserved neighborhoods warrant consideration as strategies to increase health equity.
Maureen M Black - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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food Swamps and food deserts in baltimore city md usa associations with dietary behaviours among urban adolescent girls
Public Health Nutrition, 2017Co-Authors: Erin R Hager, Alexandra Cockerham, Nicole Oreilly, Donna Harrington, Kristen M Hurley, James Harding, Maureen M BlackAbstract:Objective To determine whether living in a food swamp (≥4 corner stores within 0·40 km (0·25 miles) of home) or a food desert (generally, no supermarket or access to healthy foods) is associated with consumption of snacks/desserts or fruits/vegetables, and if neighbourhood-level socio-economic status (SES) confounds relationships. Design Cross-sectional. Assessments included diet (Youth/Adolescent FFQ, skewed dietary variables normalized) and measured height/weight (BMI-for-age percentiles/ Z -scores calculated). A geographic information system geocoded home addresses and mapped food deserts/food Swamps. Associations examined using multiple linear regression (MLR) models adjusting for age and BMI-for-age Z -score. Setting Baltimore City, MD, USA. Subjects Early adolescent girls (6th/7th grade, n 634; mean age 12·1 years; 90·7 % African American; 52·4 % overweight/obese), recruited from twenty-two urban, low-income schools. Results Girls’ consumption of fruit, vegetables and snacks/desserts: 1·2, 1·7 and 3·4 servings/d, respectively. Girls’ food environment: 10·4 % food desert only, 19·1 % food swamp only, 16·1 % both food desert/swamp and 54·4 % neither food desert/swamp. Average median neighbourhood-level household income: $US 35 298. In MLR models, girls living in both food deserts/Swamps consumed additional servings of snacks/desserts v . girls living in neither ( β =0·13, P =0·029; 3·8 v . 3·2 servings/d). Specifically, girls living in food Swamps consumed more snacks/desserts than girls who did not ( β =0·16, P =0·003; 3·7 v . 3·1 servings/d), with no confounding effect of neighbourhood-level SES. No associations were identified with food deserts or consumption of fruits/vegetables. Conclusions Early adolescent girls living in food Swamps consumed more snacks/desserts than girls not living in food Swamps. Dietary interventions should consider the built environment/food access when addressing adolescent dietary behaviours.
Matt W Hayward - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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predicting the occurrence of the quokka setonix brachyurus macropodidae marsupialia in western australia s northern jarrah forest
Wildlife Research, 2007Co-Authors: Matt W Hayward, Paul J De Tores, Michael J Dillon, Peter B BanksAbstract:The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a medium-sized, macropodid marsupial that is endemic to south-western Australia. It has declined markedly in its distribution and abundance since the early 1930s and is listed as vulnerable under IUCN criteria. The presence or absence of quokka populations at 66 sites in the northern jarrah forest of Australia was investigated using generalised linear models (GLM). We hypothesised that fox control and the presence of a mosaic of post-fire seral stages within Agonis linearifolia swamp vegetation were important in predicting the presence of quokkas. The number of poison meat baits delivered per hectare, the average number of years since the Swamps burnt and the number of post-fire age classes within the Swamps (mosaic value) were used as explanatory variables. Two models had substantial support (ΔAICc 19 years since fire) are essential for its conservation.
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home range and movements of the quokka setonix brachyurus macropodidae marsupialia and its impact on the viability of the metapopulation on the australian mainland
Journal of Zoology, 2004Co-Authors: Matt W Hayward, Paul J De Tores, Michael L Augee, Barry J Fox, Peter B BanksAbstract:The home range and movements of the quokka Setonix brachyurus, a medium-sized macropodid marsupial, were investigated using radio telemetry. Fifty-eight quokkas from five remnant mainland populations in the northern jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia were radio-collared and monitored for up to 2 years between 1998 and 2000. Mean (± SE) home-range sizes were 6.39 ± 0.77 ha and core ranges averaged 1.21 ± 0.12 ha. Male core home ranges were larger than those of females although not when corrected for body mass. Nocturnal ranges were larger than diurnal owing to nocturnal departures from the swamp. Ranges shifted to the edge of Swamps in winter, as the Swamps became inundated following rain, and toward the centre in autumn as the Swamps dried. Quokka populations are thought to exist below carrying capacity at all sites and this probably caused the lack of dispersal observed in this study. We hypothesize that predation is suppressing population booms which would otherwise drive dispersal and thereby maintain metapopulation dynamics. Without dispersal to rescue unpopulated patches, we conclude that the original quokka metapopulation has collapsed and ameliatory measures are required.
