Neighborhoods' Food Environments Revisited: Food Deserts or Food Swamps?

Abstract

This study uses service area-based coverage method and Poisson regression models to assess neighborhood healthy and unhealthy food environments in the City of Edmonton, Canada. We correlate food availability with different neighborhood socio-economic status (SES). Based on different food environments, we further identify three types of vulnerable neighborhoods that can be considered food deserts, food swamps and food tundras. Results from this study can provide policy makers with tailored strategies to effectively improve food environments with limited resources. Key findings include: (1) Neighborhoods with higher rates of deprived population such as unemployed, minority and low income groups have better access to healthy foods in general; (2) Children populations are negatively associated with both healthy and unhealthy food availability; and (3) Good access to public transportation is associated with good coverage of all types of food stores.