Question

Updated!!

Part B: Instructions

After analyzing your own choices and the messages you’ve received regarding food and nutrition, let’s focus more on one of the larger systemic influences within our society that can impact food choices and human health outcomes. Please review the following three resources and then respond to each of the questions.

• Watch the following short video: Millions of Americans Still Live in Food Deserts
• Review the following USDA webpage on information pertaining to defining and mapping food deserts: Mapping Food Deserts in the US
• Try exploring the map on the USDA Food Access Atlas: USDA Food Access Research Atlas

a. How is a food desert defined? (include the distance requirements with the definition) (2 pts)

b. Do you agree with this definition? Why or why not? (1 pt)

c. How do food deserts impact health outcomes for individuals and society? Discuss at least two ways they impact health outcomes. (3 pts)

d. After reviewing all 3 resources, state and discuss one interesting thing you discovered about food deserts. (2 pts)

e. How many full grocery stores are within a ½ or 1-mile distance from where you live?

f. If there are none, how close is the closest grocery store to where you live? (1 pt)

g. What is your primary method of getting to the grocery store (i.e. walking, bus, bike, car, carpool/uber)? How does this impact how and when you shop? (3 pts total)

h. While food deserts focus a lot on access due to proximity, there is some new research demonstrating that adding grocery stores into food deserts is not enough. What are some other system or community barriers to food access and nutritional intake beyond just proximity? Please list and explain at least one other barrier. (2 pts)

i. Research, list, and discuss at least one food policy or program that has been implemented on a city, state, regional, or national level to try to encourage healthy eating and improve health outcomes. (If you don’t discuss one of the options covered in the text, then this may take some additional research, try searching “food policies” or “implemented food programs” in a web browser. See what you can find!!) (3 pts)

Answer 1

a- Food desert is a place where there is a scarcity of nutritious food. It is a place that has a crisis of good quality fruits, vegetable crops, etc.

b- Yes, I agree with this definition as a desert always indicates the scarcity of something.

c- Two ways in which they impact their health outcomes are-

i- As there is a lack of nutritious food, most of the people are eating less nutritious food that is making them ill.

ii- It may cause you serious diseases like obesity and diabetes.

d-More than 20 million people are in the food desert zone. Most of them are low-income people. Supermarkets or any malls are more than 10 miles away from their home. Still, there is no effort from the local government.