Speaker
Description
Food environments can impact a community in a variety of ways, including increased obesity, higher risks of diabetes, and difficulty with cognitive functions for residents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the food environment(s) surrounding middle schools in Madison County, Illinois. This research allows us to identify how the food environment itself can impact students. Food environment classifications in this study included food desert, food swamp, food oasis, acute desert, and mixed neighborhood, all of which were present in the results throughout schools studied in Madison County, Illinois. The food environments were classified for each middle school using a Modified Food Retail Environmental Index and an 800-meter buffer. Each food environment classification was found within the study area. Demographic data was brought in for comparison purposes between the middle schools in Madison County, Illinois and their food environments. The demographic data included urbanicity, race/ethnicity, enrollment rates, and overall student enrollment. Results showed significant association between the schools and their food environments. The findings from this study can be used to better understand how a food environment affects students, show if there are locational consistencies between the presence of different food environments, and aid toward the creation of healthier food programs in schools.
| Is there a SINGLE day you are unavailable to present? | October 24, 2025 |
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