Southern Miss Study Suggests Long Distances High Food Prices Equal Potentially Fatal

[Newsguy]

Hattiesburg – The Mississippi Delta will remain the epicenter for diet-related illnesses if fats and sweets continue to be priced lower than healthier foods and the trip to the nearest supermarket grows any longer, according to a University of Southern Mississippi food nutrition study. “The Delta is plagued with high rates of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressureand diabetes, and we (researchers) believe better access and variety and lower costs of healthier foods could help address these serious health problems,” said Dr. Kathy Yadrick, director of Southern Miss’ Department of Nutrition and Food Systems.Researchers drew the conclusion—that environmental barriers are just as significant as personal behavior choices in tackling the region’s health problems—after randomly surveying 228 small to medium supermarkets and convenience stores throughout the Delta, Louisiana and Arkansas. Nutritionists sought to determine the price and availability of the 102 foods representing the variety one might look for to obtain a healthy diet. Their survey revealed that not only are fats and sweets more available than fruits and vegetables in low income populations, they are also more affordable.“Research suggests that monetary costs of dietary energy may encourage the purchase of low-cost energy sources like fats and sweets and discourage purchase of fruits and vegetables, particularly by those with limited income,” said Yadrick. “Purchase of fats and sweets may be further encouraged by their greater availability in food stores serving low income populations,” she said. Findings also showed that convenience stores out-numbered grocery stores plus had fewer healthy foods and higher prices, leaving many residents to travel long distances for better variety and cost. The study included an evaluation of 62 supermarkets, 77 small to medium food stores and 86 convenience stores. Researchers say for all stores, 59.2 percent of fats and sweets items were available, compared with 35.7 percent of fruit and vegetable items. They say fruit drink, granulated sugar, whole milk and white bread were the most available items in 90 percent of stores, whereas orange juice, skim milk and whole wheat bread were available in 28 percent of the supermarkets, 20.9 percent in small to medium food stores and 23.4 percent in convenience stores. In addition, researchers examined the availability of whole milk, reduced-fat and non-fat milk and determined that 21 percent of the 228 stores surveyed contained non-fat milk compared to 94 percent of the stores with whole milk available. Only one to two percent of reduced fat milk was found in 54 percent of the stores.The studies were funded by the Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative, a tri-state initiative to examine the nutritional health of people living in high-risk populations. To read more about Southern Miss activities as part of this initiative, go online to this link: www.usm.edu/nfs/Research/DNIRI/DltNIRI.htm (http://www.usm.edu/nfs/Research/DNIRI/DltNIRI.htm).For more information, please call the Southern Miss Department of Nutrition and Food Systems at 601.266.5377.

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