Food swamps

The term "food swamps" refers to urban environments with few grocery stores but several non-nutritious food options such as corner stores or fast-food restaurants, with a general ratio of four unhealthy options for each healthy option. Food swamps have positive, statistically significant effects on adult obesity rates, especially in areas where a majority of residents do not have access to personal or public transportation, and have disproportionate health impact on low-income minorities. This environment is found in areas with strong corporate or industrial influence and is becoming a global phenomenon. To eliminate food swamps, the introduction of policies which limit the amount of fast-food establishments and incentivize the distribution of healthy food options in an area is proposed. rdf:langString