Food deserts

Definition

Food deserts are areas where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, often due to a lack of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance. These areas frequently correlate with socioeconomic disadvantage and can contribute to poor diet and health outcomes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Food deserts are commonly found in urban and rural areas with low-income populations.
2. Limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables in food deserts can lead to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
3. Transportation barriers often exacerbate the problem, making it difficult for residents to travel to stores with healthy food options.
4. Policies aimed at reducing food deserts include incentives for grocery stores to open in underserved areas and improving public transportation routes.
5. Community-based solutions such as urban gardening and farmers markets can help mitigate the effects of food deserts.

Review Questions

• What are the primary factors that contribute to the existence of food deserts?
• How do food deserts impact the health outcomes of residents living in these areas?
• What are some policy or community-based interventions that can address the issue of food deserts?

Related terms

Food Insecurity:

The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Nutritional Disparities: Differences in dietary intake and nutritional status between different population groups.

Socioeconomic Status (SES): A combined measure that typically includes income, education level, and occupation, which influences an individual's or group's access to resources including nutritious food.