Food Deserts
2010
Chicago's Public Health Hazard
Traci Thomas | Data Visualization | Fall 2010
Food Deserts
Why should you care about healthy food?
Our nation's health is failing The United States is an unhealthy nation and the primary cause is obesity. It stands as the #1 health crisis for America.
65%
Adult Americans are overweight or obese.
33% American children are overweight.
15%
American children are obese.
Poor health puts a financial burden on our health care system
$120 billion
Total annual US economic cost of obesity
$50 billion
Avoidable health care expenditures
Source: The Coming Epidemic of Chronic Diseases Linked with Obesity. Harvard School of Public Health, Jan 2008.
Obesity carries health risks and diseases
Stroke Depression
Coronary heart disease Hypertension Type II diabetes Insulin resistance Cancer Uterine Cancer
http://www.obesityinamerica.org/understandingObesity/diseases.cfm
Our health problems are not going away
Obesity trends among US adults 1985
1995
No data
< 10%
10%â&#x20AC;&#x201C;14%
15%â&#x20AC;&#x201C;19%
2005
2015
projected
Rate of obesity
20%–24%
25%–29%
30%–34%
35%–39%
> 40%
Source: http://www.genesmart.com/pages/about-us/5.php
Chicago's food deserts are a public health hazard More than 600,000 chicago residents live in food desertsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;locations with limited access to affordable and nutritious foods. These locations are typically urban neighborhoods that lack supermarkets, but are swamped with fast food restaurants and convenience stores.
Lack of grocery stores plague food deserts Chicago has many food deserts, but their prevalence is concentrated on the city's south side, particularly the neighborhoods of Englewood, Washington Park, and pockets of Gage Park and Chatham.
North Side
South Side
Food deserts
Gage Park
Washington Park Englewood
Chatham
Chicago Policy Research Team Public Policy Studies, The College. "DESERTED? A Policy Report on Food Access in Four South Side Chicago Neighborhoods". University of Chicago May 2010.
Low-income African Americans are mostly affected
Englewood
Hispanic
Population
Other
Population
12,952
an ric
an ric
77,122
White
%)
Americans (
98
%)
Americans (
98
Other
Af
% Poverty
White
Af
Race profile
Hispanic
Washington Park
60%
55%
Chatham White
Other
Asian
Other
White
Afr American
ic (83%)
%)
Americans (
Population
36,046
Population
40,853
an ric
n spa Hi
98
Hispanic
Gage Park
Af
53%
42%
Chicago Policy Research Team Public Policy Studies, The College. "DESERTED? A Policy Report on Food Access in Four South Side Chicago Neighborhoods". University of Chicago May 2010.
Unhealthy choices are closer at hand than healthy ones
Food Access by Average Distance in Miles
Asian
Hispanic
African American
White
Miles 0
0.1
0.2 Fast Food
Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago, Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group, 2006.
0.3 Grocer
0.4
0.5
0.6
0
Lack of fruits and vegetables underlie nutritional deficiencies
%
% of Food Available Per Food Category
100
80
60
40
20
0 Englewood
Washington Park Vegetables
Chatham
Gage Park
Fruits
Chicago Policy Research Team Public Policy Studies, The College. "DESERTED? A Policy Report on Food Access in Four South Side Chicago Neighborhoods". University of Chicago May 2010.
The health of residents reflects a lack of nutritional resources The lack of food availability and accessibility can lead to dire health outcomes like obesity which is leading cause of other diet related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Obesity by Body Mass Index (BMI)
High BMI
As measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) standard measure for obesity. A BMI >30 is considered obese.
Low BMI
Average BMI
Years of Potential Life Lost to Cardiovascular Disease
High
Low
Medium
Years of Potential Life Lost to Diabetes
Low
High
Low
Medium
Take action Educate Focus on nutrition programs Food deserts are not deserts to these residents, but what they call their home and community. Focus on nutritious eating options and healthy behavior change through teaching and community involvement. Help to spread the message through nutrition education programs in community centers, churches, day care programs, and other neighborhood activities.
Consider other food alternatives Food trucks Because lack of transportation is a major concern in food deserts, the mobility of food trucks is one solution to bringing healthy foods into these deserted communities.
Farmer's markets In addition to mobile food trucks, farmer's markets also serve as an effective solution to improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting local agriculture.
Community gardens Changing eating behavior benefits from community involvement. Vacant lots plagued by food deserts can be turned into community gardens that can encourage participation from residents.
Advocate changes in policy Don't knock the convenience Convenience stores serve as a vital food resource in areas of limited access to grocery stores. Lobby to help them get the resources they need to stock healthy foods, such as storage.
Food stamp retailers Many of these corner stores are authorized food stamp retailers who are not adhering to the program's standards. Improving standards for these stores and instituting stiffer penalties for non-compliance can push these stores to do their part.
Partner with the right people Growing Power
http://www.growingpower.org/
Center for Urban Transformation http://www.cutchicago.org/
Good City Food Desert Action
http://www.goodcitychicago.org/node/202
CLOCC (Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children) http://www.clocc.net/
http://www.wbez.org/search/apachesolr_search/food%20deserts?solrsort=created%20desc
2010
Traci Thomas | Institute of Design