IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jfpoli/v87y2019ic2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Food deserts and diet-related health outcomes of the elderly

Author

Listed:
  • Fitzpatrick, Katie
  • Greenhalgh-Stanley, Nadia
  • Ver Ploeg, Michele

Abstract

It is hypothesized that residents of neighborhoods with limited access to affordable and nutritious food face greater barriers to eating a healthy diet, which may in turn, result in worse health outcomes for them. Low-income elderly in urban areas may be uniquely affected by these so-called “food deserts” due to limited transportation options, strong attachments to local neighborhoods, fixed incomes, physical limitations in food shopping and meal preparation, and chronic health problems. Using the 2006, 2010, and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the association between the food environment of elderly individuals living in urban Census tracts and their diet-related health was examined. Within urban areas, we find little evidence that food deserts negatively impact the health of lower income elderly individuals. Policies to address the needs of elderly residents of food deserts should be narrowly targeted and carefully justified.

Suggested Citation

  • Fitzpatrick, Katie & Greenhalgh-Stanley, Nadia & Ver Ploeg, Michele, 2019. "Food deserts and diet-related health outcomes of the elderly," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:87:y:2019:i:c:2
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.101747
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919219305640
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.101747?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Linlin Fan & Kathy Baylis & Craig Gundersen & Michele Ver Ploeg, 2018. "Does a nutritious diet cost more in food deserts?," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(5), pages 587-597, September.
    2. Weatherspoon, Dave D. & Oehmke, James F. & Coleman, Marcus A. & Weatherspoon, Lorraine J., 2014. "Understanding Consumer Preferences for Nutritious Foods: Retailing Strategies in a Food Desert," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 17(A), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Charles Courtemanche & Art Carden & Xilin Zhou & Murugi Ndirangu, 2019. "Do Walmart Supercenters Improve Food Security?," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(2), pages 177-198, June.
    4. Katie Fitzpatrick & Nadia Greenhalgh-Stanley & Michele Ver Ploeg, 2016. "The Impact of Food Deserts on Food Insufficiency and SNAP Participation among the Elderly," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 98(1), pages 19-40.
    5. Cho, Clare & Volpe, Richard J., 2017. "Independent Grocery Stores in the Changing Landscape of the U.S. Food Retail Industry," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258517, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. J. David Cummins, 2006. "Should the government provide insurance for catastrophes?," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 88(Jul), pages 337-380.
    7. Janet Currie & Stefano DellaVigna & Enrico Moretti & Vikram Pathania, 2010. "The Effect of Fast Food Restaurants on Obesity and Weight Gain," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 32-63, August.
    8. Jerry Hausman & Ephraim Leibtag, 2007. "Consumer benefits from increased competition in shopping outlets: Measuring the effect of Wal-Mart," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(7), pages 1157-1177.
    9. Moore, L.V. & Diez Roux, A.V., 2006. "Associations of neighborhood characteristics with the location and type of food stores," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(2), pages 325-331.
    10. Rhone, Alana & Ver Ploeg, Michele & Dicken, Chris & Williams, Ryan & Breneman, Vince, 2017. "Low-Income and Low-Supermarket-Access Census Tracts, 2010-2015," Economic Information Bulletin 262134, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    11. Jessie Handbury & Ilya Rahkovsky & Molly Schnell, 2015. "Is the Focus on Food Deserts Fruitless? Retail Access and Food Purchases Across the Socioeconomic Spectrum," NBER Working Papers 21126, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Neil Wrigley & Daniel Warm & Barrie Margetts, 2003. "Deprivation, Diet, and Food-Retail Access: Findings from the Leeds ‘Food Deserts' Study," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 35(1), pages 151-188, January.
    13. Ellickson, Paul B. & Grieco, Paul L.E., 2013. "Wal-Mart and the geography of grocery retailing," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1-14.
    14. Schuetz, Jenny & Kolko, Jed & Meltzer, Rachel, 2012. "Are poor neighborhoods “retail deserts”?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1-2), pages 269-285.
    15. Susan Chen & Raymond J. G. M. Florax & Samantha Snyder & Christopher C. Miller, 2010. "Obesity and Access to Chain Grocers," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 86(4), pages 431-452, October.
    16. Christian Broda & Ephraim Leibtag & David E. Weinstein, 2009. "The Role of Prices in Measuring the Poor's Living Standards," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 23(2), pages 77-97, Spring.
    17. Ver Ploeg, Michele & Mancino, Lisa & Todd, Jessica E. & Clay, Dawn Marie & Scharadin, Benjamin, 2015. "Where Do Americans Usually Shop for Food and How Do They Travel To Get There? Initial Findings from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey," Economic Information Bulletin 262116, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    18. Michael L. Anderson & David A. Matsa, 2011. "Are Restaurants Really Supersizing America?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 152-188, January.
    19. Susan Elizabeth Chen & Raymond J. Florax & Samantha D. Snyder, 2013. "Obesity and fast food in urban markets: a new approach using geo‐referenced micro data," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(7), pages 835-856, July.
    20. Cho, Clare & Volpe, Richard, 2017. "Independent Grocery Stores in the Changing Landscape of the U.S. Food Retail Industry," Economic Research Report 265463, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    21. Kaufman, Phillip R. & MacDonald, James M. & Lutz, Steve M. & Smallwood, David M., 1997. "Do the Poor Pay More for Food? Item Selection and Price Differences Affect Low-Income Household Food Costs," Agricultural Economic Reports 34065, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    22. Morland, K. & Wing, S. & Roux, A.D., 2002. "The contextual effect of the local food environment on residents' diets: The atherosclerosis risk in communities study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(11), pages 1761-1767.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Putri Aliah Mohd Hidzir & Shafinar Ismail & Sharifah Heryati Syed Nor & Aqilah Nadiah Md Sahiq, 2023. "Financial Well-Being of Micro-Entrepreneurs: A Proposed Conceptual Framework," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 15(3), pages 418-428.
    2. Amin, Modhurima Dey & Badruddoza, Syed & McCluskey, Jill J., 2021. "Predicting access to healthful food retailers with machine learning," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Bauer, Jan M. & Nielsen, Kristian S. & Hofmann, Wilhelm & Reisch, Lucia A., 2022. "Healthy eating in the wild: An experience-sampling study of how food environments and situational factors shape out-of-home dietary success," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    4. Fadhlur Rahim Azmi & Suhaiza Zailani & Mastura Roni, 2023. "A Review of the Critical Gaps in the Food Security Literature: Addressing Key Issues for Sustainable Development," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 15(2), pages 35-46.
    5. Juan Tu & Feng Qiu & Meng Yang, 2022. "Investigation of Whether People Are Willing to Pay a Premium for Living in Food Swamps: A Study of Edmonton, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rahkovsky, Ilya & Snyder, Samantha, 2015. "Food Choices and Store Proximity," Economic Research Report 210316, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Lauren Chenarides & Edward C. Jaenicke, 2019. "Documenting the Link Between Poor Food Access and Less Healthy Product Assortment Across the U.S," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 434-474, September.
    3. Chenarides, Lauren & Jaenicke, Edward C., 2016. "Store Choice and Consumer Behavior in Food Deserts: An Empirical Application of the Distance Metric Method," 2017 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting, January 6-8, 2017, Chicago, Illinois 250118, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Fan, Linlin, 2017. "The Consumer Welfare Impact of Expanding Access to Fruits and Vegetables in Food Deserts," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 259164, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Chang, Hung-Hao & Meyerhoefer, Chad D., 2019. "Inter-brand competition in the convenience store industry, store density and healthcare utilization," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 117-132.
    6. Kristen Cooksey-Stowers & Marlene B. Schwartz & Kelly D. Brownell, 2017. "Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Chen, Susan E. & Florax, Raymond J.G.M. & Snyder, Samantha D., 2009. "Obesity in Urban Food Markets: Evidence from Geo-referenced Micro Data," 2009 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, 2009, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 49512, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Villas-Boas, Sofia B & Taylor, Rebecca, 2016. "Store Choice among Low Income Households," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt33z409dq, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.
    9. Andrews, Margaret S. & Bhatta, Rhea & Ver Ploeg, Michele, 2012. "Did the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Increase in SNAP Benefits Reduce the Impact of Food Deserts?," 2012 AAEA/EAAE Food Environment Symposium 123520, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. David Atkin & Benjamin Faber & Marco Gonzalez-Navarro, 2018. "Retail Globalization and Household Welfare: Evidence from Mexico," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 126(1), pages 1-73.
    11. Susan Elizabeth Chen & Raymond J. Florax & Samantha D. Snyder, 2013. "Obesity and fast food in urban markets: a new approach using geo‐referenced micro data," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(7), pages 835-856, July.
    12. Xun Li & Rigoberto A. Lopez, 2016. "Food environment and weight outcomes: a stochastic frontier approach," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(47), pages 4526-4537, October.
    13. Hunt Allcott & Rebecca Diamond & Jean-Pierre Dubé & Jessie Handbury & Ilya Rahkovsky & Molly Schnell, 2019. "Food Deserts and the Causes of Nutritional Inequality," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(4), pages 1793-1844.
    14. Dolton, Peter J. & Tafesse, Wiktoria, 2022. "Childhood obesity, is fast food exposure a factor?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    15. Cho, Clare & Volpe, Richard, 2017. "Independent Grocery Stores in the Changing Landscape of the U.S. Food Retail Industry," Economic Research Report 265463, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    16. Ver Ploeg, Michele L. & Mancino, Lisa & Dicken, Christopher W. & Farrigan, Tracey L. & Hertz, Thomas, 2017. "An Analysis of Exposure to Poor Food Environments and Diet-Related Health Outcomes," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258218, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Bonanno, Alessandro & Ghosh, Gaurav S., 2010. "SNAP Efficacy and Food Access – A Nationwide Spatial Analysis," 115th Joint EAAE/AAEA Seminar, September 15-17, 2010, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany 116437, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    18. Linlin Fan & Kathy Baylis & Craig Gundersen & Michele Ver Ploeg, 2018. "Does a nutritious diet cost more in food deserts?," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(5), pages 587-597, September.
    19. Schuetz, Jenny, 2015. "Why are Walmart and Target Next-Door neighbors?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 38-48.
    20. Matthew, Salois, 2010. "Obesity and Diabetes, the Built Environment, and the ‘Local’ Food Economy," MPRA Paper 27945, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:87:y:2019:i:c:2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/foodpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.