Poor urban neighborhoods are often food deserts, bereft of fresh fruits and vegetables. According to a report by the Bloomberg School of Public Health, nearly one in four school-aged children in Baltimore live in a food desert — an area where nutritious food choices are limited, and almost one-third of city households lacked access to enough nutritious food to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There is a 20-year difference in life expectancy between some neighborhoods in the city, and unhealthy diet contributes to many of the top causes of death and disease in this city like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. That’s according to Dr. Kimberly Gudzone, an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who directed a recent pilot program for the Healthy Stores project.
The Healthy Stores projects realistically address the complexities faced by store owners with respect to maintaining an inventory of fresh produce. Teams aim to improve health and prevent obesity and disease in low-income communities. The Johns Hopkins initiative operates through the Center for Human Nutrition and engages in culturally appropriate store-based interventions that increase the supply of healthy foods while also promoting their purchase.
Consider the Source
