Measures to Counteract Food Deserts and Related Health Risks in Urban Communities

In 2015, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, world leaders gathered to develop revised Sustainable Development Goals. These goals were designed to address multiple areas of concern for societies, including “No Poverty,” “No Hunger,” and “Good Health and Well-Being.” Now, experts across the globe are working to design ways to address and meet these goals. Focusing on poverty and the multiple ways it affects society, may be a step in the right direction. Some researchers are focusing their research to specifically address the relationship between poverty and health. In particular, researchers are highlighting that where there is increased poverty, there is usually a lack of access to fresh, healthy food options. This lack of access creates food deserts, which is a major area of concern for the health of the citizens in these areas. Food deserts can contribute to multiple health concerns including increased rates of diabetes and obesity (Cummins & Macintyre, 2005). In order to better understand this linkage, there are essential research questions this study sought to address, including: (1) What categorizes an area as a food desert? (2) What are the main causes of food deserts? (3) What is the link between health problems and food deserts? (4) Finally, are there preventative measures in place to counteract food deserts and if so, how do we implement them more effectively?