Disclosed: Your Zip Code Dictates the Quality of Your Life
Everyone understands that diet full of fruits and vegetables plays a significant role in staying healthy, living longer, and preventing disease, but for some, access to fresh produce is only a mirage.
Considering the current global health and social crisis and as an aspiring nutritionist, I felt compelled to shine some light on an issue that many might not be well informed by the public: the racial and ethnic disparities in health. While we all are trying to navigate a new way of living, many of us, including myself, can help each other out when we are equipped with proper knowledge.
Health disparities are defined as preventable differences to achieve optimal health among socially disadvantaged groups. These disparities are directly related to the historical and current unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources.
The list of factors that may cause health inequality consist of:
- poverty levels
- environmental threats
- access to health care
- education
- personal behaviors
It all makes sense, but how does food and nutrition relate to it?
Nutrition-related disparities are viewed as a difference in eating behaviors and patterns, resulting in a poorer diet that can increase disease risk, mortality, survival, and overall quality of life. Typically, racial and ethnic minority groups, such as Black, Asian, and American Indian/Alaska natives-are the most affected by these nutrition-related differences. Hence, these population groups tend to have more inadequate diets, often high in saturated fat and salt, but low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Meanwhile, USDA claims availability of 113.8 lb per person of fresh and processed fruits, 64.1 lb of chicken, 54.3 lb of beef, and 132.1 lb of wheat flour ready to be consumed. Yet 11.1 percent (14.3 million) of U.S. households are food insecure, meaning these households live with the uncertainty of having, or unable to supply enough food for their family members because of insufficient money or access to fresh produce.
These numbers just don’t add up.
It is heart-wrenching to know that we live in an abundance of calories, yet many people eat french fries as their only vegetable intake.
Why is it happening?
Location, location, location
“Your zip code is a better predictor of your health than your genetic code,”
This quote by Melody Goodman, an expert on health disparities, was told to the audience at the Harvard School of Public Health symposium. She developed ways to quantify factors such as racism, white privilege, discrimination, and community engagement to improve the health of underserved communities. Melody argues that people living just a few blocks apart may have vastly different health outcomes because of their neighborhood. Where you live directly affects your health in a number of ways:
- Exposure to pollution and toxins
- Accessibility of healthy food
- Greenspace
- Medical care
As stated previously, the lack of accessibility to healthy food can lead to poor dietary choices. In 2008, the USDA assessed the areas in the United States where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food, commonly referred to as “food deserts.”
What are the “food deserts”?
These country regions often feature large proportions of households with low incomes, inadequate access to transportation, and a limited number of food stores providing fresh produce and healthy meals at affordable prices.
These “food deserts” exist in both rural and urban areas, where the nearest supermarket is miles away or where the only food available within walking distance is through fast-food joints. You might be living in one or in close proximity to it without even knowing.
Residents of the “food deserts” are often left to purchase their food supply at gas stations or mom-and-pop corner stores. These are small locations that have limited shelf space and very little, if any, fresh foods.
You can find “food deserts” near you with the USDA’s new food desert locator map for your personal research ventures.
For example, the neighborhood I live in has a relatively high number of households without a vehicle while living more than 1 mile away from the grocery store. The area is highly saturated with fast-food restaurant chains. No wonder why the residents choose a meal from one of these places after a long day of work, it is close and convenient, but detrimental to health.
Who is affected most?
A research team led by Lisa M. Powell, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, presented national data categorized by U.S. zip codes to provide a bird’s eye view of areas that do not have access to a supermarket or a grocery store.
The team looked at food availability in 28,050 zip codes in the U.S. Census data on race, ethnicity, income, population, and urbanization degree. They concluded that 29% of zip codes do not have a grocery store or supermarket, and 74% do not have a chain supermarket. Moreover, there are some significant socioeconomic differences among ethnic groups:
- African-American populations had half as much access to chain supermarkets as Caucasians
- Hispanic populations had one-third the access to chain supermarkets as non-Hispanics
- Lower-income neighborhoods overall had less access to chain stores than middle- and upper-income neighborhoods.
“Food deserts” is a very real issue, and many of us have an opportunity to create a change.
What can be done?
“Food deserts” have been on the radar of the public health practitioners for a while now. Many have taken actions in implementing strategies and policies to bring produce and other healthy options to these areas. You and I can take part in this change too.
The CDC recommends several strategies to prevent food deserts. I revised them with an idea in mind that we can all start from where we are:
- Build and volunteer community gardens in your neighborhood
- Support local farmer’s markets
- Go vote! Your vote can tweak local laws and tax codes to entice supermarkets and other healthy food retailers to grow in the underserved communities
- Research, volunteer, donate to local organizations, such as Feeding America.org that fight hunger, prevent food waste, and reduce food insecurity
Personally, I also feel inspired to create a change through nutrition education. I understand that food is a deeply cultural and personal thing. Many families have beloved meals that give them comfort and make them feel at home. I believe that nutrition education should be created with that understanding in mind acknowledging deeply rooted cultural norms found in every community.
In solidarity of wellness,
Anna.
