The dynamics between the food environment and residential segregation: An analysis of metropolitan areas

Abstract

The benefits of a “healthy diet” are firmly established, but the ability to follow established dietary-guidelines varies significantly across the American population. While personal choices do matter, the local food environment plays a role in the ability to access the right foods.This study examines the underlying pathways by which residential segregation affects the food environment in all large metropolitan areas in the United States by specifically relating the different dimensions of residential segregation with the food environment in terms of both access and quality, variety of food available. Using variance function regression, we simultaneously model the means and variances, and therefore the net effects of residential segregation on the food environment.Results show that residential segregation impacts the relative availability of healthy food options compared to unhealthy food options. More segregated metros have relatively fewer healthy food outlets and also have larger travel distances to healthy food outlets. Increased residential segregation is also associated with less variation in the food environment, especially for segregation by income.By shedding light on the particular aspects of residential segregation that impact the food environment, this study fits into both the debate over the consequences of segregation, and the debate over effective food retail zoning and accessibility.