This study aimed to evaluate the association between food addiction (FA), food environment and consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in socially vulnerable women.

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Favelas and Urban Communities of Maceió-Brazil. The availability of UPF in the food environment was evaluated through the audit of retailers with the support of the AUDITNOVA instrument. The women taking part in the study were interviewed, and a 24-hour food recall was used to assess the proportion of UPF in their diet. The modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was also used to determine FA. Association analysis was performed using binary logistic regression and generalised estimation equations.

1702 adult women of reproductive age (20–44 years) residents in Favelas and Urban Communities.

It was found that 14·6 % of the women had FA. The adjusted multivariate association analysis showed that the high availability of UPF in food retail increased the chance of women having FA by up to 47 % (P= 0·02 OR: 1·53; 95 % CI: (1·07, 2·18)). It was also possible to observe that the greater calorific contribution of UPF in the diet increased the chance of women presenting FA by up to 61 % (P< 0·01 OR: 1·39; 95 % CI: (1·48, 1·97)).

The environment and what is available in it are associated with additive behaviour independent of individual factors, and UPF consumption increases the chance of FA. This demonstrates the need for changes in the food environment in Brazilian favelas, contributing to improving women’s health.

To examine cross-sectional associations of four aspects of the consumer food environment – price, availability, marketing and product placement – with BMI and fruit and vegetable intake.

This cross-sectional study measured the consumer food environment using grocery store audits and surveys. Outcomes were measured through surveys and physical exams. Multivariable linear regression models were run; models were all adjusted for age, neighbourhood, education, race/ethnicity and financial burden.

Non-proportional quota sample of four socio-economically and racial/ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in Chicago, IL.

Women (n 228) aged 18–44 years.

Participants who reported seeing healthy food marketing had a higher vegetable intake (β = 0·24, 95 % CI 0·06, 0·42). There was some suggestive evidence that participants who shopped at stores that were more expensive (β = −0·90, 95 % CI−1·94, 0·14) had lower BMI, but this association was not statistically significant. Multivariable regression models did not indicate any significant association between any measure of the consumer food environment and fruit intake.

Our findings add to the growing interest in the role of the consumer food environment in health behaviours. Further research is needed to better understand the role of price and marketing characteristics on eating behaviours and BMI.