141st APHA Annual Meeting

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283918
Food desert and diabetes mortality and morbidity: Evidence from fulton county, Georgia

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Madhubanti Chatterji, MA; MPlan; MPH , Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Food environments across the globe often play a crucial role in determining one's health status. Living in a food desert is not merely an inconvenience; it can be hazardous to health. Literature has demonstrated the fact that obesity and diabetes are two serious public health issues that can be associated with living in food deserts. The main purpose of the study is to highlight the importance of access to healthy food and its implications on diabetes health status. It examines whether there is a an association between lack of access to fresh food, large grocery stores or supermarkets in low income, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated food deserts in Fulton County, GA and the mortality and morbidity from diabetes among the residents. 9.1% (CI: 8.9-9.2%) of all the Fulton County residents, 18 years and over, suffer from diabetes (Georgia Department of Community Health). With the help of GIS tools, the study examines whether one's geographic location within the County influences health status measured by diabetes morbidity and mortality (1999-2010) in each census tract. It looks at factors such as household income, transportation and race/ethnicity in food deserts in Fulton County and determines whether there is a significant difference in diabetes morbidity and mortality across the County based on the above factors. This research is important because little information exists that discuss the prevalence of diabetes at the state and metro area level which is associated with lack of access to healthy food. With this data and information, key stakeholders can make informed decisions concerning diabetes, its impact on their communities and resource allocation.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
Describe the association between living in food desert and diabetes prevalence measured by diabetes mortality and morbidity Analyze factors influencing diabetes prevalence among Fulton County, GA residents Differentiate between diabetes prevalence in USDA designated food desert and non food desert census tracts Identify possible policy and design interventions to alleviate diabetes in low income food deserts

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working on food environment and diabetes prevalence as part of my Masters thesis for the completion of the Master of Public Health degree from the Institute of Public Health, Georgia State University.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4170.3: Food and the Environment