Corner Store and Commuting Patterns of Low-Income, Urban Elementary School Students

Schools are often a setting to implement nutrition-based pediatric obesity prevention programs. However, when there has been considerable focus on the school environment in the context of childhood obesity, less is known about the environments around the school, particularly in low-income, urban neighborhoods. The purpose of this study was to assess students’ corner store and commuting habits before and after school in a low-income, urban environment. 

This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 702 4^th - 6^th graders from 10 K-8 public schools where 82.1% ± 7.4% of children qualified for free or reduce-priced meals. Participants were surveyed about their corner store and commuting habits by using a 16-item questionnaire. Both height and weight were measured twice and the average of each was used and Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as BMI z-scores and BMI percentiles based on age and sex were calculated for each student. Besides, student’s demographic information was self-reported. 

The results showed that the majority of 4^th - 6^th grade urban students shopped in corners stores either in the morning (57.4%) or in the afternoon (58.5%). Nearly half (44.8%) reported shopping and purchasing in both the morning and the afternoon. Children reported spending approximately $2.00 per corner store visit. Approximately two-thirds of children reported that they walked to or from school. Children who walked to school frequented corner stores more than those using other commuting methods. Relative weight status was not related to corner store or commuting patterns. 

In short, many low-income children purchase food at corner stores before and/or after school, making corner stores an important target for public health nutrition. While many children walk to school, those are more likely to frequent corner stores. Neither corner store nor commuting pattern is associated with relative weight. Further research should also include a greater range of age groups to better understand if these patterns vary by age.

Article by Stephanie S. Vander Veur, et al, from Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.

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