Background and Aims

Food deserts are defined as “[locations] vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas […] due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers markets, and healthy food providers.” Many studies have proven the existence of a correlation between diets poor in fresh produce and fibers to the metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between urban food deserts and MSRD in 7 cities in California (San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, Santa Clara, San Jose, San Bernardino, Merced).

Methods

Data were obtained from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Census Bureau. A correlation and t-test were performed to investigate the relationship between census tract income, number of grocery stores located in that census tract and the prevalence among residents of Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension, chronic Kidney disease (DOHK), Hypercholesterolemia.

Results

There is a negative correlation between median income and: presence of grocery stores (p=0.007), prevalence of DOHK (all p≥0.000) while the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia shows a positive correlation (p=0.015).

A t-test between the upper and lower 50^th percentile of income showed greater number of grocery stores in poorer areas (p=0.034) as well as higher prevalence of DOHK (all p≥0.000). This difference remains consistent and statistically significant even when we focus on the poorest (<25%) and richest (>75%) groups (table below).

Conclusions

This study contrasts the orthodox that food deserts generate chronic disease; the lack of food affordability is more likely responsible for higher prevalence of MSRD in poorer urban environments.