Slate Labs recently posted this interactive map detailing what are called “food deserts” (that’s one S, not two, fatty) – areas where people report both not having a vehicle and the nearest grocery store >1 mile away. The implication is that people in food deserts eat a majority of processed/prepared food from restaurants and convenience stores.
Looking at the distribution, I noticed a curious overlap with what is called (perhaps only in medicine) the “Stroke Belt” (or “Stroke Alley”), pictured here:
You clever folks should know that it doesn’t stop there – obesity:
Diabetes?
And combined:
Now, the reason I’m posting this is not to lament about community access to healthy foods or comment on social issues – it’s simply to draw a correlation (and correlation does not imply causation). We always hear about low-quality, processed or prepared foods and their impact on our health – however, some of us are visual learners, and this may get you thinking.
So, for those of us who can do something about it – start making better choices today, and be thankful that you have the option to do so.
March 30th, 2012 → 8:00 am
[...] until we attack the problem on multiple fronts. That means improving school lunches, eliminating food deserts, making neighborhoods more exercise-friendly, and plenty of other small changes that, when [...]