Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States: A review of food deserts literature
Open accessAbstract
Increasingly, studies are focusing on the role the local food environment plays in residents' ability to purchase affordable, healthy and nutritious foods. In a food desert, an area devoid of a supermarket, access to healthy food is limited. We conducted a systematic review of studies that focused on food access and food desert research in the United States. The 31 studies identified utilized 9 measures to assess food access. Results from these studies can be summarized primarily into four major statements. Findings from other countries offer insight into ways, in which future research, policy development and program implementation in the U.S. may continue to be explored.
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Healthy foods are primarily available in supermarkets, and although sometimes found at corner stores, gas stations, restaurants, and convenience stores, healthy items are available at higher prices and a lower quantity or quality.
“Healthy foods are primarily available in supermarkets, and although sometimes found at corner stores, gas stations, restaurants, and convenience stores, healthy items are available at higher prices and a lower quantity or quality [38,39].”
From Agroecological Transition: A Territorial Examination of the Simultaneity of Limited Farmer Livelihoods and Food Insecurity (2022) · cites this paper as [39]
HFP neighborhoods in the United States are disproportionately people of color experiencing high poverty rates; compared with more affluent areas, food prices in these neighborhoods are higher, and food quality is poorer, often inedible.
“HFP neighborhoods in the United States are disproportionately people of color experiencing high poverty rates.Compared with more affluent areas, the food prices in these neighborhoods are higher, and food quality is poorer, often inedible [39,40], exacerbating consumers' challenges accessing healthy foods.”
From Agroecological Transition: A Territorial Examination of the Simultaneity of Limited Farmer Livelihoods and Food Insecurity (2022) · cites this paper as [39]
Walker and Keane identified four explanatory factors in their systematic review of food access in HFP areas in the United States.
“In their systematic review of food access in HFP areas in the United States, Walker and Keane [39] identified four explanatory factors.”
From Agroecological Transition: A Territorial Examination of the Simultaneity of Limited Farmer Livelihoods and Food Insecurity (2022) · cites this paper as Walker and Keane [39]
A second contributing factor to food access in HFP areas is racial and ethnic disparities.
“A second contributing factor is racial and ethnic disparities”
From Agroecological Transition: A Territorial Examination of the Simultaneity of Limited Farmer Livelihoods and Food Insecurity (2022) · cites this paper as Walker and Keane [39]
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- Authors
- Walker, R. E., Keane, C. R., & Burke, J. G.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Corresponding author
- Walker, Renee E.
- Venue
- Health & Place
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 876-884
- ISSN
- 1353-8292 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2002735931
- Cited by
- 1,716
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 93 · 2025: 116 · 2024: 135 · 2023: 120 · 2022: 155 · 2021: 163 · 2020: 147 · 2019: 139 · 2018: 118 · 2017: 127 · 2016: 112 · 2015: 110 · 2014: 67 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 62.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Health & Place (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University Libraries (University of Maryland) (submittedVersion)
- Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (University of Maryland College Park)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- food deserts, food access, healthy food access, food environment, food insecurity, food access disparities, food policy, nutrition policy
- MeSH terms
- Food Supply, Humans, Residence Characteristics, Restaurants, United States, Marketing, Food, Organic
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