![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.jpg)
BACKGROUND: Low availability and affordability of healthier foods in supermarkets and convenience stores on the Navajo Nation (NN) may be a contributing community-level factor to the high prevalence of obesity among the Navajo people living on NN. As there are relatively few studies about the NN’s nutrition environment, an assessment of food and beverage availability and pricing in supermarkets and convenience stores throughout the NN was conducted.
METHODS: Stores on the NN and in border towns were identified using a commercial database, Yellow Pages®, Google Maps™, and contacts on the reservation. An adaptation of the validated Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey in Stores (NEMS-S) observational tool was used to assess foods. Data about availability and pricing of healthy and less healthy foods were collected from 63 supermarkets (n = 13) and convenience stores (n = 50) on the NN and an additional 20 stores from five border towns. Percentages were calculated to determine overall availability of each healthier item and corresponding less healthy item; chi-square (χ2) tests were used to assess differences between groups.
RESULTS: According to the NEMS-S assessment, Navajo convenience stores offered fewer healthier food options compared to Navajo supermarkets. In Navajo convenience stores, 100% whole grain products, reduced fat cheese, lean meats, reduced fat chips, and fat-free or light hot dogs were available in fewer stores than their corresponding less healthy versions (all with p < 0.05). In both Navajo supermarkets and convenience stores, 100% whole wheat bread, lean cold cuts and reduced-fat cheese were all more expensive per unit than their corresponding less healthy versions (all with p < 0.05). A greater proportion of Navajo convenience stores that accepted WIC offered the healthy food items in all food categories than Navajo convenience stores that did not accept WIC.
CONCLUSIONS: From this study, healthier foods are not as readily available in Navajo convenience stores as they are in Navajo supermarkets. Improving access to and affordability of healthier foods in reservation stores of all sizes may support healthy eating among Navajo residents.