Beyond proximity in urban food environments: mobility capacity to access fruits and vegetables in a Mexican city

Source abstract

Cities of proximity (e.g. the 15-minute city) has the potential to improve health by promoting equitable spatial access to resources such as healthy food stores. However, assuming that individuals access the nearest stores may misrepresent their interactions with these resources. To address this assumption, we explored how motility (i.e. individuals’ mobility capacity) and store characteristics influence residents’ decisions on where to purchase fruits and vegetables in a Mexican city. Using sequential mixed-methods, we first quantitatively identified zones within the city where dichotomous levels (high or low) of both potential access to food stores (within a 15-minute walking distance) and area-level socioeconomic deprivation were spatially correlated; subsequently, we qualitatively interviewed residents from these zones. Participants’ narratives revealed that, regardless of their potential access level, they leverage their motility to prioritize stores that meet their needs and/or preferences, such as lower prices among high deprivation participants or higher quality among low deprivation participants. Considering residents’ needs, preferences, and capacities that shape access to healthy food provides critical insights for enhancing proximity-based urban planning for healthy eating. Given socioeconomic and food culture differences globally, region-specific research of this nature is essential to inform urban food policies.