The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that nearly 30 million Americans live
in neighborhoods without easy access to affordable nutritious food,1
and persons living in lowerincome
communities, communities of color, or rural communities are less likely to have healthier
food available to them.2
Making affordable, healthier foods more available to underserved residents
is one of several strategies that may help individuals to make healthier choices about what to
eat and may be associated with better health outcomes. For example, research has shown that
residents with access to full service grocery stores tend to eat more fruits and vegetables,2-7 and
other studies have found an association between healthier food retail access and lower prevalence
of overweight and obesity among adults.8-12 However, these relationships have not been found in
some studies.2,13 Conversely, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is higher in areas where food
is mostly available through small stores and fast food outlets.2