Obesity: It’s Not Your Fault…Somewhat

We here at the Prosperity Blog have been trying to stay out of the health care reform debate for the most part, except to beat the drum somewhat for personal responsibility in taking care of yourself, so as to reduce the need for health services. But we carved out an exception on the obesity issue for lower income people “who tend to be heavier because of lack of access to healthy food.”

So it’s notable that the City of Seattle is taking on this issue directly:

It is no surprise that eating habits and health are intrinsically related, but it is important to note that the way our food is distributed significantly influences these eating habits. A recent study in Canada found a direct correlation between lack of access to grocery stores (and other fresh food outlets) and high obesity rates. The study found that some communities only had convenient access to heavily processed, nutritionally-void foods, which negatively influenced residents’ health.

In order to address this public health issue, the city’s Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is working in conjunction with other groups to develop a comprehensive Food Policy Action Plan which will identify areas that are underserved by grocery stores. More specifically, the plan will include a set of distribution maps identifying the locations and types of food outlets throughout the city, along with demographic data such as age, race and median income. The DON will then analyze the findings to develop an action plan to increase access to fresh food in vulnerable areas. Lois Maag, a spokesperson for DON, expects that the action plan will be finalized sometime this fall.

The article uses the term “food deserts” which is a great phrase except that I had to read it a few times before I realized that it wasn’t “food desserts” which has the opposite effect.  Anyway, finding a way to incentivize grocery stores to move into lower income neighborhoods and/or getting convenience stores to sell fresher, healthier foods is an interesting economic development strategy, for a number of reasons…not the least of which being that healthier people are more likely to be able to contribute more fully to the economy.  You can also reduce traffic and environmental impacts if a) people have to drive less to go to the grocery store and b) the fresh, healthy food is locally grown (which also has the economic impact of supporting local agriculture).