Health and the 'Hood

Where you live shapes health, as well as economic and social, outcomes according to this new study (via Freakonomics):

people who live near an abundance of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores compared to grocery stores and produce vendors, have a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes regardless of individual or community income.

Comments

[Michael Wells]

Most places are one or the other. Neighborhoods with lots of fast food & quik-marts don't seem to be the ones with farmer's markets and Whole Foods, or for that matter Safeways. It's obviously tied to class and to profits. Real grocery stores run on thin profit margins, while convenience stores sell nothing but high profit products.

I have an old friend who is seriously overweight and talking to her made me realize that some foods are actually addictive for some people -- things like refined sugar, white flour, fats. If you accept that, then convenience stores are built around addictions -- alcohol, tobacco and empty calories. The thing about addiction is it overrides price as a consideration. When I quit smoking, cigarettes were about 35¢ a pack. Now they're 3 or 4 dollars, easily matching the inflation of gasoline and housing, but for a product that doesn't do you any good.

One of the things that shows up repeatedly is low income immigrants who follow their traditional diet don't get obese & diabetes. But when they adopt the "American" diet, which is usually fast food, they get them.

[hayden fisher]

And where do you find fast food? Suburbia, of course. Super-sized meals to go drive-thru style ordered and picked-up from super-sized gas-guzzling SUV's with kids watching/playing backseat DVD's and video games. You don't find that inside urban communities (generally).

Although, all that said, you have to credit McDonalds for its ability to be continuously and steadfastly on top of its game. Their urban stores offer menus completely different than their traditional-style suburban stores. Sorry, but as much as I hate to, I have to point out that one exception to the rule.