| Summary: | The purpose of this article was to investigate the association of food environment variables with Body Mass Index (BMI), excess weight and obesity. This was a cross-sectional study determining the presence or absence of food establishments within a 100-m buffer zone from each sampled household. Individuals aged 18 years and older living in the urban area of Rio Grande, RS State, Brazil, in 2016, were considered eligible. A total of 1,139 individuals, with an average age of 46.5 years (SD 17.1), residing in the household for more than one year, were selected as a representative sample of the population. The mean BMI of study participants was 27.0 kg/m2 (SD 4.8), and the prevalence of excess weight and obesity was 61.6% (95%CI: 58.9; 64.3) and 23.7% (95%CI: 21.3; 26.1), respectively. Living near a convenience store was associated with a higher BMI and a higher likelihood of being above normal weight and obese. In contrast, living near a restaurant was associated with a lower BMI and a lower likelihood of being above normal weight and obese. In addition, participants who lived close to fruit shops had lower BMI and a lower likelihood of being above normal weight. Concluding few associations were found between food environment and the health-related outcomes. Proximity to food establishments does not seem to significantly affect BMI, excess weight and obesity in the studied population.
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