Is your neighborhood making you fat? According to several studies, it just might be. Most individuals know that the keys to good health are a combination of good nutrition, regular physical activity, stress management and genetics. Nutrition and regular physical activity, however, can take a back seat when your environment is one in which access to healthy foods -- or even safe sidewalks -- are almost impossible to find.
A recent study in the Journal of Planning Education and Research found that women who lived closer to a convenience store than a grocery store were more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI). To understand why this association was identified, it may be important to look at the overall availability of food at your local convenience store or gas station. Gas stations, movie theatres, the ball park, and even your local mall's food court are areas that offer what I refer to as "secondary dining." The main goal of these food establishments is to provide a service or entertain you; not to feed you nutritiously. These places rely on food that can be prepared quickly and conveniently using salt, fat and sugar to enhance flavor and taste rather than fresh produce, healthy fats and spices.
For example, consider the offerings at convenience store. You walk in and can choose from a variety of calorie-dense, nutritionally sparse foods such as breakfast sandwiches, pastries and muffins, chips, candy, cookies, ice cream, sugary sodas, juices and frozen drinks, as well as a smorgasbord of prepared hot items like pizza, hot dogs and wings. At first glance, the most nutritious food you're likely to find at most is coffee and that assumes you don't add a flavored creamer or sugar. Although some convenience stores have started providing fresh fruit, smoothies and salads, they are not common in most neighborhoods. Even if they are available, these items are often priced out of range for most of their consumers.
For most of us, convenience stores are just that: a place of convenience. A place to go if we need a gallon of milk or to satisfy a chocolate craving. It's not a place where we shop for our groceries. But, for some, a convenience store is a grocery store. The nearest actual grocery store might be 10 miles away which, if transportation is not available, makes it pretty difficult to patronize. For individuals in this predicament -- many of which are included in the aforementioned study -- it is not surprising that their BMIs are higher than average.
So what, realistically, can be done? Currently, many local and national organizations are working towards providing better access to affordable, healthy foods in areas like the one I described above -- areas commonly referred to as "food deserts." You can help, too. If you know someone with limited access to healthy food or if the scenario described in this blog describes your situation, consider taking some or all of these steps:
1) Become a community advocate and encourage others to join you in your mission. Research existing stores within the area and communicate with store owners to determine if opportunities exist to offer more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
2) Find out who your city planners are and schedule visits with them to discuss better options in your neighborhood. Identify and contact farmers market vendors to determine if they are able to set up a farmers market in your community.
3) Gather residents together to plan a community garden. Click here for steps on getting started.
4) Think about starting a community supported agriculture (CSA) program or find one near you by clicking here.
5) Finally, if possible, find transportation or carpool options that can bring you to large grocery stores every few months. Once there, you can purchase frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods that freeze well (such as whole-grain breads and lean meats like chicken or turkey breast). You can also purchase and easily store non-perishable items that give you ultimate nutritional bang for your buck such as beans (all varieties), brown rice, and whole grain cereals and crackers.
But food deserts are only part of the problem. Many U.S. neighborhoods have limited access to "active living" environments -- places where individuals can exercise safely. New York City is taking a lead by starting active urban design initiatives in which they partner with several departments of design as well as leading architectural firms to create spaces that encourage physical activity.
The great part is that New York City is not alone in this effort. Many other communities throughout the United States are following their lead, including places in Ohio. I asked David Pauer, founder of Active Living Ohio, why creating an environment that fosters active living is so important. He stated that "for those of us who can't get to a gym on a regular basis, a walkable and bike-able community can provide the daily opportunity to burn calories and get the physical activity that is so important for overall health." Pauer suggests getting involved with local initiatives aimed at creating such environments. To see what your community is doing, visit www.activelivingbydesign.org/communities.
The problem of limited healthy food availability and active living environments is not just a problem for our civic leaders and the government. We're all responsible.
What will you do to improve it?
Follow Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., L.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic
Local Harvest / Farmers Markets / Family Farms / CSA / Organic Food
New ideas suggest that breast feeding may be the key to both overweight and underweight problems.The lack of at least one year of breast feeding for infants is causing both overweight and underweight problems across the world.
Weaning sets up a food in and waste out pattern - probably in the ENS, Enteric Nervous System, that subconsciously programs us for our lives. If there is not enough breast milk before that weaning period - the infant will be 'hungry' from then on. He will move toward food and become overweight. The overriding emotion is Anger
If the weaning is too soon such that the child's digestion system can't handle the new non-breast milk, solids, then the child will always be 'too full' (of food he can't yet digest) from then on. He will move away from food and become underweight. The overriding emotion is Fear.
Time to promote one year of breast feeding for all mothers in all countries.
this should be easy to test.
"Before 1900, most mothers breastfed their infants. Breastfeeding rates declined sharply worldwide after 1920, when evaporated cow's milk and infant formula became widely available. These were promoted as being more convenient for mothers and more nutritious than human milk." - faqs.org
_
I really think that the statistics are lopsided in this article, representing only a small section of the US or even specific cities. And of course it blames a neighborhood for one's health rather than the person. Which is rather silly.
We have a huge educational problem in this country that's not getting discussed.
Why don't the schools teach kids how to cook?
Or balance a bank checkbook?
Or sew?
Or how to grow food?
Because that's just too logical?
children and adults could walk or ride a bicycle to the school, store, work or play?
With the price of oil rising and transportation costs increasing driving everywhere will
get expensive. THe last time oil went to $147/barrel people were parking their truck
and SUV and were looking for high mileage vehicles. How soon we forget.
As energy costs rise so will everything else. Energy is a component in producing
and transporting everything. From food, shelter, clothing and everything else the world
economy was built on cheap energy.
We are in for a change as prices rise.
We may start to buy electric, hybrid or flex-fuel vehicles that use less energy.
We may use more public transportation like trains, busses, trolleys and pedicabs.
We may begin to cherish those bicycle paths that allow us a safe place to ride or walk
to school, work or play.
As the price of oil goes up so will the cost of food.
We need to look at creating sustainable communities where food, products and energy
are produced locally. Wind, solar, geothermal, wave energy and second generation biofuels
can all be produced locally with local jobs keeping the money in the local economy.
.
Population growth. There are more than twice as many people in the US today then there were when I was born.
In Germany, these small businesses are protected by laws that prevent big retailers from overwhelming them. Not here. We wanted cheap, we got cheap.
Paris.
It's very simple. It's about self-respect. Americans have none anymore. We've given up being leaders in industry and technology and education. We've lost the respect of the world, and we're finally realizing it. Now we don't respect ourselves anymore. There is a feeling of hopelessness that comes after any study that shows how far this nation has fallen, in health care (45th), education (in the 20s) and even wealth distribution (worse than Egypt). And many of us are out of work, thereby making it more expensive to buy decent food. Instead, we head to the Olive Garden and fill our bellies with processed cheese and fat that promise to make our last 10 years our lives quite painful. When our best days are behind us, who cares what we look like?
Healthy fresh food is a lot more expensive, try to live in an inner city on very little money before you get judgmental