Promising Strategies to Improve Access to Fresh, Healthy Food and ...

PolicyLinkWhy Access MattersHealth BenefitsResearch has demonstrated that when lowincomeindividuals and people of color haveaccess to local stores that sell a wide varietyof high-quality, nutritious foods at affordableprices, they make healthier choices about theirdiets, have better health outcomes, and benefitfrom improved local economic development. 37Better Access Contributes toHealthier EatingIn both urban and rural areas, people withlimited access to supermarkets or other storesselling healthy food near their homes areless likely to have a healthy diet than thosewith better access—and people with betteraccess have better diets. For example:• Among adults in Baltimore, New York City, andNorth Carolina, those with no supermarketswithin a mile of their homes are 25 to 46percent less likely to have a healthy diet thanthose with the most supermarkets near theirhomes; this remained true after adjustment forage, sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomicstatus. 38• In rural Mississippi, adults living in “fooddesert” counties are 23 percent less likely toconsume the recommended amount of fruitsand vegetables than those in other counties,controlling for age, sex, race, and education. 39• African Americans living in neighborhoods withat least one supermarket are more likely tomeet dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetableconsumption and fat intake than AfricanAmericans living in neighborhoods withoutsupermarkets. 40• One study found that fruit and vegetableconsumption increases 32 percent forAfrican Americans with each additionallocal supermarket, and 11 percent for whiteAmericans. 41• In New Orleans, proximity to stores stockingmore fresh produce is associated with highervegetable consumption. Each additional meterof shelf space devoted to fresh vegetables isassociated with an additional 0.35 serving ofvegetables per day. 42Better Access Contributes toLower Rates of Obesity andDiet-Related DiseaseA number of studies have found that thepresence of supermarkets corresponds withlower rates of diet-related disease includingobesity and diabetes. For example:• Increased availability of chain supermarkets isassociated with lower rates of being overweightamong teens. 43• An Indiana study found that children wholived near a supermarket are less likely to beoverweight. 44• A New York City study found that obesity ratesare lower for people surrounded by more storesselling healthy food relative to unhealthy food—and that increased density of healthy storesreduces obesity rates. 45• One study found that people living inneighborhoods with supermarkets comparedto people living in places with access to onlysmaller food stores, convenience stores, or both,have lower rates of obesity (21 percent versusHealthy Food, Healthy Communities17