A Systematic Review of Food Deserts, 1966-2007

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Beaulac, Julie ; Kristjansson, Elizabeth ; Cummins, Steven
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  "Food deserts," areas characterized by poor access to healthy and affordable food, may contribute to social and spatial disparities in diet and diet-related health outcomes. However, the extent to which food deserts exist is debated. We review the evidence for the existence of food deserts in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
  
  Methods
  
  We conducted a systematic review of primary, quantitative, observational studies, published in English or French, that used geographic or market-basket approaches in high-income countries. The literature search included electronic and hand searches and peer-reviewed and grey literature from 1966 through 2007. We also contacted key researchers to identify other studies. We analyzed the findings and quality of the studies qualitatively.
  
  Results
  
  Forty-nine studies in 5 countries met inclusion criteria; the amount and consistency of the evidence varied by country. These studies were a mix of geographic and market-basket approaches, but the methodologic quality of studies and completeness of reported findings were mixed. We found clear evidence for disparities in food access in the United States by income and race. Findings from other high-income countries were sparse and equivocal.
  
  Conclusion
  
  This review suggests that food deserts exist in the United States, where area-level deprivation compounds individual disadvantage. Evidence for the existence of food deserts in other high-income nations is weak.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Developed Countries Food Supply Humans Original Research Poverty Areas Restaurants
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 6(3).
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  6
• Issue:
  3
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3a692a5cc627bf0665b8a2af429717fbaf32c3898a30ae5bdad265c0f7781c78595607efe5e0777dc241a00445a33c69da501636debb8618740550a8adbd85ca
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/20366/cdc_20366_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 498.70 KB ]