Cross-sectional associations between work and commute hours with frequency and location of food outlet visits: The moderating role of 20-minute neighbourhoods

The 20-minute neighbourhood (20MN) concept seeks to promote healthy and local living through the provision of everyday amenities and services close to home. This study explored if 20MNs benefit workers with long work-related time demands who may have less time to interact with their local neighbourhood. It assessed associations between work and commute hours with frequency and location of food outlet visits, and tested whether neighbourhood type (20MN vs. non-20MN) moderated these associations. Results suggested up-to-full-time (1–38 h/week) and overtime workers (>38 h/week) tend to visit their primary supermarket less often than non-workers (0 h/week). Overtime workers were more likely to frequently visit out-of-home food outlets than non-workers. Up-to-full-time workers were more likely to visit a greater variety of food stores than non-workers if they had a 20MN but not if they had a non-20MN. Compared to non-workers, overtime workers with a non-20MN more frequently visited cafés and used delivery services from supermarkets or meal/recipe box suppliers, but that was not the case for those with a 20MN. Most frequently visited outlets were closer to home for those with a 20MN, suggesting the 20MN concept holds the potential to encourage more local living.