Breaking the Link: Food Deserts and Chronic Illnesses

Food deserts are defined as geographic locations where people have limited access to nutritious and affordable food1, often located in low-income neighborhoods and minority communities, resulting in sparse-to-no access to supermarkets or grocery stores that sell fresh produce.2  Paradoxically, they also have too many fast food outlets and convenience stores that sell deep-fried foods, sugary beverages, and salted snacks.2 Food deserts have become a major contributor to rising rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cancers within these communities.3

            The link between food deserts and chronic illnesses is an important public health issue related to social determinants of health. The issue has grown to near-crisis level over recent decades due to a combination of systemic issues including urban planning that deprioritized grocery store development in marginalized areas, disinvestment in low-income communities, and socioeconomic disparities that make it harder for families to access transportation, quality education, and jobs that support healthy living.2,4 Within food deserts, available food choices are often high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats, ingredients that are directly linked to many chronic diseases, including obesity, and cancers.3 As a result, people living in food desert communities face higher rates of preventable illnesses and a lower quality of life.

            Public health emphasizes prevention, and evidence-based strategies can mitigate the problem of food deserts at an individual, community, and population level. Whereas systemic issues require broad solutions, individuals can take small but meaningful steps to eat healthy meals. Credible resources such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, highlight affordable and healthy dietary options.5 Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) provide guidance on how to make healthier food choices on a budget.6 Individual initiatives such as home or community gardening can provide ways to grow fruits and vegetables in small spaces.7 The use of mobile apps8 to locate fresh food resources or shop at farmers markets that accept SNAP can also make a positive impact. 

            Evidence-based strategies to prevent chronic illnesses linked to food deserts also have the power to bring lasting changes on a larger scale at the community and population level. Policy interventions that incentivizes the establishment of grocery stores in underserved food deserts, such as the Healthy Food Retail Program, have been shown to improve access to and affordability of healthy foods including fresh fruits and vegetables in inner-city neighborhoods.9 Similarly, in rural or transportation-limited areas, mobile markets and food co-ops that bring fresh food directly to communities have proven effective for healthy eating.10 Zoning reforms and urban planning policies limiting the number of fast-food outlets while encouraging the growth of full-service grocery stores help in supporting healthy diets.11 Community and school programs that offer free healthy lunches, nutrition education, and after-school food programs12 can set up younger generations for long-term health success. 

            It is essential to highlight the link between food deserts and chronic illnesses. Food deserts are not a result of personal choices, but rather a reflection of broader structural inequalities. Blaming individuals for poor dietary choices and chronic health issues ignores the systemic barriers that limit access to healthy food. Real solutions to unhealthy eating must also address the root causes like poverty, racial discrimination, and lack of community investment.13 Supporting local efforts, whether by volunteering at a community garden, advocating for policy changes, or shopping at farmers markets, can have a ripple effect, promoting healthy eating and preventing chronic illnesses. By investing in solutions that empower individuals and communities, we can reduce the burden of chronic illness and build a healthier, more equitable future. 

For more information on the topic of food deserts and its relationship to chronic illnesses, readers can search the following resources: 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Food Deserts & Access to Healthy Food. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/toolstemplates/entertainmented/tips/FoodDesert.html

 

The Food Trust – Bringing Healthy Foods to Communities. http://thefoodtrust.org/what-we- do/healthy-food-financing

 

USDA Economic Research Service – Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food: Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences
https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=42729

 

About the Writer:

As a student at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, I am deeply committed to addressing health disparities through preventive care and community-based interventions. My interest in public health stems from a desire to understand how social determinants, such as access to nutritious food, shape long-term health outcomes. The link between food deserts and chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension highlights the urgent need for systemic change. I am particularly passionate about exploring how policy, education, and community engagement can work together to ensure equitable access to healthy food and promote wellness in underserved populations.

References

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