A Snapshot of the Food Environment

In West County

West County HEALProject Presentation

4/15/08

Communities of ExcellenceThe Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX3) project takes a look at select low-income neighborhoods* in Contra Costa County to measure the nutrition environment and identify opportunities for improvement. CX3 was designed by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Health California.

•Neighborhoods with 50% or more residents at < 185% of the federal poverty level

Obesity on the RiseThis image cannot currently be displayed.

Understanding the Problem1. More than half of all adults are overweight or

obese

2. Likelihood of being overweight is influenced by the environment in which you live

3. In California there are four times as many unhealthy food outlets as healthy outlets

4. Low-income communities tend to have the poorest food choices

The Cost of Obesity1. Significant increase in related chronic diseases

2. Obesity is taking a toll on the County’s economy:

Increased health care costs

Increased workers compensation costs

Increased absenteeism

Lost productivity

Reduced competitiveness

Mapping the NeighborhoodsContra Costa Health Services, in partnership with the

West County HEAL Project, Opportunity West and Eco-Village, collected and analyzed local data from April 2007 to April 2008 in three steps:

1. Geographic Information System website

2. Field surveys of neighborhood stores

3. Standardized scoring system developed by CX3

West County Youth

14 youth conducted thesurveys

West County Neighborhoods

North Richmond

23rd Street Corridor

Iron Triangle

Neighborhood Food Store Quality

• Access, availability, quality and promotion of nutritious foods are key measurements of a healthy environment

• Stores scoring 75/100 or better met “quality standards”

• Scores were awarded on a variety of factors

Criteria for Measuring Quality• Access

• Price

• Availability

• Nutrition Information

• Exterior Advertising

• Interior Advertising & Promotions

• Walkability & Safety

Iron Triangle Stores

Store 1 64.5Store 2 79.5Store 3 46.5Store 4 46.5Store 5 58Store 6 51.5Store 7 23.5

North Richmond Stores

Store 1 18Store 2 16Store 3 27

23rd Street Corridor Stores6 total stores in Richmond

Store 1 54Store 2 64Store 3 53.5Store 4 56Store 5 65Store 6 55

2 total stores in eligible census tract11 stores in San Pablo – not analyzed

Raising the Score

• Store 6 in the Iron Triangle 51.5 points• WIC + signs 5.5• Quality of fruit 6.0• Skim milk 2.0• Retail program, info 5.0• Ads and promos 6.0

• Total extra points 24.5• TOTAL POINTS 76

Raising the Score

• Store 2 on 23rd Street 64 points• Food stamp signs 1.5• Skim milk 2.0• Whole grain product 2.0• Frozen F or V 1.0• Nutrition info 2.0• Ads and promos 4.0

• Total extra points 12.5• TOTAL POINTS 76.5

Fast Food Score• The marketing of fast food takes a variety of forms

and shapes the diet and expectations of a neighborhood

• Stores scoring 37/50 or better met “quality standards”

• Scores were awarded on a variety of factors

• There are few fast food restaurants in these West

County neighborhoods

• All scored well below the “quality” threshold

Key Neighborhood Findings• Our neighborhoods are out-of-balance from a nutrition

and health perspective

• Characterized by limited access to affordable, healthy foods

• Within the Iron Triangle’s small stores, there are healthy staple items but little produce

• Within stores along 23rd Street in Richmond, there is good produce but it is expensive. There are fewer healthy staple items

• Within North Richmond, there is very little that is healthy

Tackling Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

• Explore how new WIC package can enhance

offerings in Iron Triangle and along 23rd Street

• Explore how CDBG and redevelopment could impact

stores

• Explore increasing capacity of North Richmond Flea

Market/North Richmond produce market?

• What else is going on?

• How can we collaborate?

This material was funded by USDA’s Food Stamp Program through the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California. Contra Costa Health Services provided

additional funding. These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. The Food Stamp Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help buy

nutritious food for a better diet. For information of the Food Stamp Program, call 1-888-328-3483.

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