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Food Deserts: United States

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I need a comprehensive analysis of food deserts in America, what they are and how they are classified.

Additionally, I need a comprehensive analysis of the food desert located on the South Side Chicago, specifically surrounding the 9100 block of South Baltimore in Chicago, IL.

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This solution explains food deserts in the United States. 1265 words with 6 references.

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In accordance with Brainmass standards this is not a hand in ready paper but only background help.

Step 1
Food desert is a geographic area where affordable and nutritious food is difficult to get. Those without access to a car have even greater problems in getting affordable and nutritious food. Food deserts exist in rural areas and low income communities. Researchers and epidemiologists have consistently shown that those who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods have worse health outcomes (a). The people living in these areas have high infant mortality to disability in the elderly. Living in food deserts has been linked with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. Living in disadvantaged areas is associated with more obesity, depression and physical inactivity (b). Those who live in food deserts have low access to health-promoting factors and higher access to health damaging factors. Nutritional intake directly affects health outcomes. Residents of food deserts are large geographic areas with no or distant grocery stores face nutritional challenges. The food deserts have concentrations of nearby fast food stores. Those communities that have out of balance food environments have higher rates of residents dying prematurely from diabetes. In Chicago, African American communities are the most likely to experience the greatest total years of life lost from diabetes. African Americans are the most disadvantaged in Chicago when it comes to balanced food choices. On average, they have to travel the farthest distance to any type of grocery store.

Specifically, in a typical African American block, the nearest grocery store is roughly twice as distant at the nearest fast food restaurant. This means that for African-Americans, it is much easier to access fast food than any other types of food. Following a doctor's dietary recommendation is very difficult for African Americans. If we hold income and education constant, statistics have found that as grocery store access decreases, obesity increases. Obesity can trigger other diseases and chronic health conditions. Living in a food desert means greater obesity rates, premature death, and lower quality of life, especially for mothers and children.

Step 2
Food deserts have occurred because land-use policies help develop wealthy and white suburban neighborhoods. In the interest of profitability, large supermarkets open in these white suburban ...

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