Abstract A70: Is the availability of fast food restaurants and tobacco outlets near schools in 97 U.S. counties associated with school sociodemographic characteristics?

Abstract

Abstract Background: Fast food and tobacco product availability near schools might influence youth diet and tobacco use, and greater availability near racially diverse or lower income schools may contribute to racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in cancer risk. However, no national studies have examined the availability of both fast food restaurants and retail tobacco outlets near schools in the United States (US) in association with school sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: Fast food restaurants and tobacco outlets were counted within 800 m Euclidean buffers around public primary, middle and high schools in 97 US counties. Counties were randomly selected proportionate to county population size in 2011. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the association of school racial/ethnic composition and participation in free/reduced price lunch programs with fast food restaurant and tobacco outlet availability near schools. Results: Nearly 40% of schools had both a fast food restaurant and a tobacco outlet within 800 m (approximately a 10 minute walk). The odds of having both a fast food restaurant and tobacco outlet within 800 m increased by 5% for every 10% increase in the percentage of Hispanic students (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03, 1.07). Odds increased by 3% for every 10% increase in the percentage of students receiving free/reduced price lunch (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01, 1.05). High schools had nearly 1.5 times the odds of having both a fast food restaurant and a tobacco outlet within 800 m compared with primary schools. Conclusion: Low income and Hispanic students, and high school students are disproportionately exposed to both fast food restaurants and tobacco outlets near schools in this sample of 97 US counties. Restricting the location of fast food and tobacco retail outlets in school neighborhoods may help reduce access to harmful products, particularly among some vulnerable populations. Citation Format: Heather D'Angelo, Alice Ammerman, Penny Gordon-Larsen, Laura Linnan, Leslie Lytle, Kurt M. Ribisl. Is the availability of fast food restaurants and tobacco outlets near schools in 97 U.S. counties associated with school sociodemographic characteristics? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A70.