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“I Shouldn’t Have to Drive to the Suburbs”: Grocery Store Access, Transportation, and Food Security in Detroit During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Aeneas O. Koosis, Alex B. Hill, Megan Whaley, Alyssa W. Beavers. Nutrients, 2025-07-26
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Bivariate analyses showed that chain grocery store shoppers reported significantly greater fruit and vegetable intake (2.42 vs. 2.14 times/day for independent grocery store shoppers, p < 0.001) and lower rates of food insecurity compared to independent store shoppers (45.9% vs. 65.3% for independent grocery store shoppers, p < 0.001). Fewer independent store shoppers used their own vehicle (52.9% vs. 76.2% for chain store shoppers, p < 0.001). After adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic variables transportation access was strongly associated with increased odds of shopping at chain stores (OR = 1.89, 95% CI [1.21,2.95], p = 0.005) but food insecurity was no longer associated with grocery store type. Shopping at chain grocery stores was associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake after adjusting for covariates (1.18 times more per day, p = 0.042). Qualitative responses highlighted systemic barriers, including poor food quality, high costs, and limited transportation options, exacerbating food access inequities. These disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve transportation options and support food security in vulnerable populations, particularly in urban areas like Detroit. Addressing these structural challenges is essential for reducing food insecurity and promoting equitable access to nutritious foods.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Koosis, A. O., Hill, A. B., Whaley, M., & Beavers, A. W. (2025). “I Shouldn’t Have to Drive to the Suburbs”: Grocery Store Access, Transportation, and Food Security in Detroit During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152441
Vancouver
Koosis AO, Hill AB, Whaley M, Beavers AW. “I Shouldn’t Have to Drive to the Suburbs”: Grocery Store Access, Transportation, and Food Security in Detroit During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients. 2025. doi:10.3390/nu17152441.
BibTeX
@article{koosis2025-109611f5,
author = {Koosis, Aeneas O. and Hill, Alex B. and Whaley, Megan and Beavers, Alyssa W.},
title = {{“I Shouldn’t Have to Drive to the Suburbs”: Grocery Store Access, Transportation, and Food Security in Detroit During the COVID-19 Pandemic}},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/nu17152441},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152441}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Bivariate analyses showed that chain grocery store shoppers reported significantly greater fruit and vegetable intake (2.42 vs. 2.14 times/day for independent grocery store shoppers, p < 0.001) and lower rates of food insecurity compared to independent store shoppers (45.9% vs. 65.3% for independ
- Fewer independent store shoppers used their own vehicle (52.9% vs. 76.2% for chain store shoppers, p < 0.001).
- After adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic variables transportation access was strongly associated with increased odds of shopping at chain stores (OR = 1.89, 95% CI [1.21,2.95], p = 0.005) but food insecurity was no longer associated with grocery store type.
- Shopping at chain grocery stores was associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake after adjusting for covariates (1.18 times more per day, p = 0.042).
- Qualitative responses highlighted systemic barriers, including poor food quality, high costs, and limited transportation options, exacerbating food access inequities.
Why it matters
This study examines grocery store access, transportation and food security in Detroit during COVID-19, not Alzheimer's disease, so it offers nothing on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's. It found chain store shopping was associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Effect size45.9%; 65.3%; 52.9%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Nutrients) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Nutrients: journal h-index 331 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Alyssa Whitney Beavers: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Michigan State University: institution h-index 1,089 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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