A healthy diet includes a range of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or reduced-fat dairy, and protein-rich meals such as fish, lean meats, and chicken. 6500 food deserts around America have a limited supply of healthful foods.
The absence of nutritious food alternatives has a negative influence on the local people. Due to a lack of nutritious food alternatives, food desert communities tend to eat more fast food, which may be the only economical and nearby option. Fast food consumption daily, as a result of a lack of a nutritious diet, contributes to the various food desert health problems of obesity and diabetes. UTSA researchers’ study found that individuals who live in food deserts are also at a higher risk of obesity, The data show that Americans who do not have enough to eat or reside in places without access to businesses selling inexpensive nutritional meals are more likely to get diabetes and obesity.
Another negative impact of food deserts’ health risks is on pregnant women who live in the communities. As a result of dietary deficiencies, many pregnant women have weaker immune systems and miscarriages. Many infants who survive delivery despite their mothers’ vitamin deficiency are likely to be born with birth defects.
- https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0645#:~:text=However%2C%20some%20of%20the%20studies,in%20poor%20or%20fair%20health
- https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/poverty