African American Food Environments and Anti-Inflammatory Intake in Pregnancy

Understanding the spatial determinants of food intake is crucial for establishing links between maternal food environments, diet, and health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify how the distance and density of built food environments in proximity to African American pregnant women living in urban settings are associated with nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory food intake. We hypothesized that living closer to grocery stores and farther from fast-food restaurants and convenience stores is associated with increased intake. We also hypothesized that higher grocery-store density and a lower density of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores is associated with increased intake. Using cross-sectional data from the Early Life Adversity, Biological Embedding (eLABE) and Risk for Developmental Precursors of Mental Disorders Study, as well as geographic information system (GIS) data and linear regression analyses, we examined the relationships between the built food environment and food intake in the St. Louis metropolitan area, adjusting for covariates. This analysis revealed that shorter distance to fast-food restaurants and longer distance to grocery stores were associated with higher legume intake in adjusted models. These findings highlight nuanced and counterintuitive associations, underscoring the need for additional research to understand why more distant grocery stores and closer fast-food restaurants are linked to higher legume intake among African Americans.