Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct
Introduction: "Food deserts" have emerged over the past 20 years as spaces of concern for communities, public health authorities and researchers because of their potential negative impact on dietary quality and subsequent health outcomes. Food deserts are residential geographic spaces, typ...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Health Agency of Canada
2017-10-01
|
Series: | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-37-no-10-2017/food-desserts-winnipeg-novel-method-measuring-complex-contested-construct.html |
_version_ | 1811196832082034688 |
---|---|
author | Joyce Slater Stefan Epp-Koop Megan Jakilazek Chris Green |
author_facet | Joyce Slater Stefan Epp-Koop Megan Jakilazek Chris Green |
author_sort | Joyce Slater |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Introduction: "Food deserts" have emerged over the past 20 years as spaces of concern for communities, public health authorities and researchers because of their potential negative impact on dietary quality and subsequent health outcomes. Food deserts are residential geographic spaces, typically in urban settings, where low-income residents have limited or no access to retail food establishments with sufficient variety at affordable cost. Research on food deserts presents methodological challenges including retail food store identification and classification, identification of low-income populations, and transportation and proximity metrics. Furthermore, the complex methods often used in food desert research can be difficult to reproduce and communicate to key stakeholders. To address these challenges, this study sought to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a simple and reproducible method of identifying food deserts using data easily available in the Canadian context. Methods: This study was conducted in Winnipeg, Canada in 2014. Food retail establishments were identified from Yellow Pages and verified by public health dietitians. We calculated two scenarios of food deserts based on location of the lowest-income quintile population: (a) living ≥ 500 m from a national chain grocery store, or (b) living ≥ 500 m from a national chain grocery store or a full-service grocery store. Results: The number of low-income residents living in a food desert ranged from 64 574 to 104 335, depending on the scenario used. Conclusion: This study shows that food deserts affect a significant proportion of the Winnipeg population, and while concentrated in the urban core, exist in suburban neighbourhoods also. The methods utilized represent an accessible and transparent, reproducible process for identifying food deserts. These methods can be used for costeffective, periodic surveillance and meaningful engagement with communities, retailers and policy makers. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:06:09Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-eaebd9431a7c403281ab69e57b033f62 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2368-738X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:06:09Z |
publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
publisher | Public Health Agency of Canada |
record_format | Article |
series | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
spelling | doaj.art-eaebd9431a7c403281ab69e57b033f622022-12-22T03:54:16ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2017-10-01371035035610.24095/hpcdp.37.10.05stringFood deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested constructJoyce Slater0Stefan Epp-Koop1Megan Jakilazek2Chris Green3Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaFood Matters Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaWinnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaWinnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaIntroduction: "Food deserts" have emerged over the past 20 years as spaces of concern for communities, public health authorities and researchers because of their potential negative impact on dietary quality and subsequent health outcomes. Food deserts are residential geographic spaces, typically in urban settings, where low-income residents have limited or no access to retail food establishments with sufficient variety at affordable cost. Research on food deserts presents methodological challenges including retail food store identification and classification, identification of low-income populations, and transportation and proximity metrics. Furthermore, the complex methods often used in food desert research can be difficult to reproduce and communicate to key stakeholders. To address these challenges, this study sought to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a simple and reproducible method of identifying food deserts using data easily available in the Canadian context. Methods: This study was conducted in Winnipeg, Canada in 2014. Food retail establishments were identified from Yellow Pages and verified by public health dietitians. We calculated two scenarios of food deserts based on location of the lowest-income quintile population: (a) living ≥ 500 m from a national chain grocery store, or (b) living ≥ 500 m from a national chain grocery store or a full-service grocery store. Results: The number of low-income residents living in a food desert ranged from 64 574 to 104 335, depending on the scenario used. Conclusion: This study shows that food deserts affect a significant proportion of the Winnipeg population, and while concentrated in the urban core, exist in suburban neighbourhoods also. The methods utilized represent an accessible and transparent, reproducible process for identifying food deserts. These methods can be used for costeffective, periodic surveillance and meaningful engagement with communities, retailers and policy makers.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-37-no-10-2017/food-desserts-winnipeg-novel-method-measuring-complex-contested-construct.htmlfood desert, GIS, food security, Canada |
spellingShingle | Joyce Slater Stefan Epp-Koop Megan Jakilazek Chris Green Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada food desert, GIS, food security, Canada |
title | Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct |
title_full | Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct |
title_fullStr | Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct |
title_full_unstemmed | Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct |
title_short | Food deserts in Winnipeg, Canada: a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct |
title_sort | food deserts in winnipeg canada a novel method for measuring a complex and contested construct |
topic | food desert, GIS, food security, Canada |
url | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-37-no-10-2017/food-desserts-winnipeg-novel-method-measuring-complex-contested-construct.html |
work_keys_str_mv | AT joyceslater fooddesertsinwinnipegcanadaanovelmethodformeasuringacomplexandcontestedconstruct AT stefaneppkoop fooddesertsinwinnipegcanadaanovelmethodformeasuringacomplexandcontestedconstruct AT meganjakilazek fooddesertsinwinnipegcanadaanovelmethodformeasuringacomplexandcontestedconstruct AT chrisgreen fooddesertsinwinnipegcanadaanovelmethodformeasuringacomplexandcontestedconstruct |