Non-Linear Socioeconomic Inequality in the Distribution of Food Outlets in Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria, Australia

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Health Promotion Journal of Australia Pub Date : 2025-07-13 DOI:10.1002/hpja.70074

Melvin Barrientos Marzan, Lisa Hui, Heng Jiang, Wubet Worku Takele, Mari de Leon, J. C. Nacpil, Yichao Wang, Melissa Wake, Suzanne Mavoa

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Issue Addressed

Socioeconomic disparities in food environments significantly impact diet quality and health outcomes, yet comparative evidence between metropolitan and regional areas remains limited. We examined spatial and temporal changes in food outlet availability in Victoria, Australia from 2019 to 2023.

Methods

Geospatial data from OpenStreetMap was used to classify food outlets into healthy, less healthy, and unhealthy categories. Outlet densities were calculated within 500 m (walkable) and 2000 m (short driving) buffers from Statistical Area Level 1 centroids. Socioeconomic disparities were assessed using the Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage quintiles. Gini coefficients quantified inequality, while Kruskal-Wallis tests, Dunn's post hoc tests, and k-means clustering identified socio-spatial patterns.

Results

In metropolitan Melbourne, both highly disadvantaged (quintile 1) and affluent areas (quintiles 4–5) had significantly higher densities of food outlets (e.g., 2.3 vs. 2.7 healthy outlets per 1000 people within 500 m in 2023), while mid-range socioeconomic areas (quintiles 2–3) had notably lower availability. Regional Victoria exhibited similar trends, with mid-range areas consistently underserved. From 2019 to 2023, Melbourne's Gini coefficients for healthy outlet access improved slightly (0.45–0.43), whereas regional areas worsened (0.52–0.55). Clustering revealed limited healthy food availability in disadvantaged rural clusters and high densities of unhealthy options in urban regional centres.

Conclusions

Food outlet availability in Victoria shows distinct non-linear socioeconomic disparities, disproportionately disadvantaging mid-range socioeconomic areas.

So What

Strategic urban planning and targeted policy interventions in underserved suburban and regional locations are essential for mitigating inequalities and promoting healthier communities.

Abstract Image

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澳大利亚墨尔本市区和维多利亚地区食品销售点分布的非线性社会经济不平等

食品环境中的社会经济差异显著影响饮食质量和健康结果，但大都市和地区之间的比较证据仍然有限。我们研究了2019年至2023年澳大利亚维多利亚州食品出口供应的时空变化。方法利用OpenStreetMap的地理空间数据，将食品销售点分为健康、不健康和不健康三类。出口密度是在距离统计区一级质心500米（可步行）和2000米（短途驾驶）缓冲区内计算的。使用相对社会经济优势和劣势五分位数指数评估社会经济差异。基尼系数量化了不平等，而Kruskal-Wallis检验、Dunn事后检验和k均值聚类则确定了社会空间模式。结果在墨尔本大都会区，高度贫困地区（1分位数）和富裕地区（4-5分位数）的食品网点密度均显著较高(例如，2023年500米范围内每1000人有2.3个健康网点，而中等社会经济地区（2-3分位数）的食品网点密度明显较低。维多利亚地区也表现出类似的趋势，中游地区一直服务不足。从2019年到2023年，墨尔本健康出口通道的基尼系数略有改善（0.45-0.43），而区域地区则恶化（0.52-0.55）。聚类分析显示，在处境不利的农村集群中，健康食品的供应有限，而在城市区域中心，不健康食品的选择密度很高。结论维多利亚州的食品出口供应表现出明显的非线性社会经济差异，不成比例地不利于中档社会经济地区。在服务不足的郊区和区域地区进行战略性城市规划和有针对性的政策干预，对于减轻不平等和促进更健康的社区至关重要。

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来源期刊

Health Promotion Journal of Australia PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

10.50%

发文量

115

期刊介绍： The purpose of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia is to facilitate communication between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers involved in health promotion activities. Preference for publication is given to practical examples of policies, theories, strategies and programs which utilise educational, organisational, economic and/or environmental approaches to health promotion. The journal also publishes brief reports discussing programs, professional viewpoints, and guidelines for practice or evaluation methodology. The journal features articles, brief reports, editorials, perspectives, "of interest", viewpoints, book reviews and letters.