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Corner, E. G. (2020, August 13). What are food deserts? Each Green Corner. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.eachgreencorner.org/2020/08/13/what-is-a-f

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According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food deserts are defined as areas with limited access to affordable and healthy food options, such as fruits and vegetables (USDA, 2012). Socioeconomic and environmental factors greatly influence the food we are able to eat, which in turn also influences how healthy we will be. According to Dr Jasmine Delk, if you live in a food desert that has more access to processed fast food and corner liquor stores, you are more likely contract chronic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Delk, 2022). Now considering this, it is important to look at the distance factors that contribute to food deserts and insecurity.

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USDA, 2023 (Labeled for non commercial re-use)

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According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a food desert in terms of distance is defined a, "A tract with at least 500 people, or 33 percent of the population, living more than 1 mile (urban areas) or 10 miles (rural areas) from the nearest supermarket, super center, or large grocery store." (USDA, 2012). This is especially concerning in states like Mississippi where the average distance between super markets in rural Mississippi are 190 miles. That means people need to travel for hours in order to gain access to fresh fruits and vegetables. No wonder Mississippi is considered the hungriest state with the most food insecure communities in America. (UMC, 2022). This is a major nutrition issue in need of addressing.

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Office of Continuing and Distance Education, Kent State University. (2023, April 18)

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Food deserts impact our health in a lot of different ways. From creating unhealthy BMIs in children and adults, to increasing incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, there is a lot of links that food deserts have a negative impact on our overall health.

- There have been studies done on children who live with cystic fibrosis and how living in food deserts affects their health negatively. According to Dr Corbea-Hincappie, "When accounting for food deserts alone, children and adolescents with CF living in a food desert had 2.9 times the odds of having a non-ideal BMI as those not living in a food desert" (Corbea-Hincappie, 2011).

- Dr Delk also illustrates how food deserts all over New Orleans, Louisiana contribute to the incidence of type II diabetes. According to Dr Delk, "The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies numerous neighborhoods in New Orleans, Louisiana, as food deserts or areas with inadequate access to good quality foods. With approximately 35% of all patients with type 2 diabetes" (Delk, 2022).

- These different statistics illustrate how food deserts have a tremendously negative impact on our health. We must create solutions to combat this issue in our communities.

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- One major recommendation that I would like to suggest in order to address the food deserts and food insecurity issues in America are creating more subsidized food banks in communities who are heavily affected by these issues. Food banks create functional and convenient ways in order to help distribute healthier food options for people who do not have access to these foods in their area. A study conducted by Dr Catherine Bazerghi, food banks are a great solution in order to address this issue. According to Dr Bazerghi, "While food banks may not be able to resolve all client needs, they do have a role to play in reducing the impact of food insecurity" (Bazerghi, 2016). Food banks being able to distribute to communities who are affected by food insecurity will greatly address these issues and help people eat healthier. This will overall impact their health positively. If we start investing into subsidized food banks I believe it could be very beneficial in helping eliminate more food deserts across the United States especially in states like Louisiana and Mississippi.

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- Bazerghi, C., McKay, F. H., & Dunn, M. (2016). The Role of Food Banks in Addressing Food Insecurity: A Systematic Review. Journal of community health, 41(4), 732–740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0147-5

- Corbera-Hincapie, M. A., Kurland, K. S., Hincapie, M. R., Fabio, A., Weiner, D. J., Kim, S. C., & Kazmerski, T. M. (2021). Geospatial Analysis of Food Deserts and Their Impact on Health Outcomes in Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Nutrients, 13(11), 3996. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113996

- Corner, E. G. (2020, August 13). What are food deserts? Each Green Corner. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.eachgreencorner.org/2020/08/13/what-is-a-food-desert/

- Delk, J. A., Singleton, B. A., Al-Dahir, S., Kirchain, W., & Bailey-Wheeler, J. (2022). The effect of food access on type 2 diabetes control in patients of a New Orleans, Louisiana, clinic. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA, 62(5), 1675–1679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2022.05.001

- Documentation. USDA ERS - Documentation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/documentation/

- Office of Continuing and Distance Education, Kent State University. (2023, April 18). Life in America's food deserts, how poverty and suburbanization have impacted Public Health. Kent. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://onlinedegrees.kent.edu/college-of-public-health/community/causes-of-food-deserts