Food desert

Food desert is a term that describes geographic areas where residents' access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient travelling distance. The concept of food deserts is a relatively new area of study in the field of public health, and its implications for health outcomes are still being explored.

Etymology

The term "food desert" is believed to have been first used in the early 1990s in a report on nutrition in the United Kingdom. The metaphorical use of the word "desert" is intended to evoke an area where food is scarce, similar to the way physical deserts lack water.

Definition

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food desert as an area where at least 33% of the population lives more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (for rural areas, the distance is more than 10 miles). However, this definition has been criticized for not taking into account other potential sources of food, such as convenience stores and fast food restaurants.

Causes

Food deserts can be caused by a variety of factors, including economic conditions, urban planning decisions, and societal trends. For example, the closure of a major grocery store can create a food desert in an urban area. Similarly, in rural areas, the lack of transportation options can make it difficult for residents to access grocery stores.

Implications

Living in a food desert can have serious health implications. Studies have shown that people living in food deserts are more likely to suffer from obesity and diet-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. This is because residents of food deserts often rely on fast food restaurants and convenience stores that offer few healthy food options.

Solutions

Various solutions have been proposed to address the problem of food deserts, including the development of community gardens, the introduction of farmers' markets and mobile food markets, and the implementation of policies to encourage grocery stores to locate in underserved areas.

See also

• Food security
• Food justice
• Urban agriculture

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