Monday, March 2, 2009
Urbanites have trouble finding healthy food
The availability of healthy food choices and quality of diet is worse for impoverished urban denizens than suburban residents, according to two studies conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The studies examined healthy food availability and diet quality in the city of Baltimore and its surrounding county.
They found 46% of lower-income neighborhoods had a low availability of healthy foods, items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, skim milk and whole wheat bread as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Geography plays a larger role in dietary health than previously estimated. And, 24% of the black participants lived in neighborhoods with a low availability of healthy food compared with 5% of whites.
The second study examined the availability of healthy foods across 159 neighborhoods and 226 neighborhood stores in Baltimore and the surrounding county. Researchers found that 43% of predominantly black neighborhoods and 46% of lower-income neighborhoods had low availability of healthy foods, compared to 4% and 13%, respectively, in predominantly white and higher-income neighborhoods.
Where you live is a major determinant of your health, and staff at ACP Internist noted that this study could happen in our hometown of Philadelphia and probably get the same result. It could happen in any city, we suspect.
Labels: epidemiology, Nutrition
posted by Ryan DuBosar at
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1 Comments:
Here is Tucson, there is an Arizona-owned chain of grocery stores that operates stores under three names, with three levels of offerings, and three pricing structures. For the wealthy in the foothills they offer trendy food and fine wine at steep prices. For the middle class in the valley they offer a variety of foods and in-store childcare.
In the poorer, mostly Hispanic neighborhoods, the stores are alive with ranchero music and pinatas hanging from the ceiling. Chili peppers, platanos, napalitos (cactus pads), fresh cilantro, and loads of less exotic fresh fruits and vegetables are available at bargain prices. These are not the fanciest stores in Tucson, but many people drive to these neighborhoods to shop at these stores for ingredients you can't buy elsewhere in town.
National grocers could learn a lesson from this highly-successful Arizona chain. They make their money selling fine wine to the rich folks, which allows them to sell healthy, fresh food in the poor neighborhoods at affordable prices. It can be done.
Pamela Powers
Managing Editor
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