Food deserts are areas that lack access to affordable and nutritious whole foods like fruits and vegetables. They often contain many fast food restaurants and convenience stores instead. Food deserts commonly exist in tightly packed urban areas where it is difficult for superstores to fit. In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 48% of adults have heart disease, 20% are overweight, and 79% consume less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Many neighborhoods in the county also have limited access to vehicles and large grocery stores, contributing to health issues like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Solutions proposed include farmers markets, community gardens, and improving access to affordable healthy foods.

1. Food Deserts

2. Food Deserts
Lack close access
to fruits, veggies,
and whole grains

3. Can you buy whole, raw potatoes as easily as French fries, high –salt
chips, candy, and soda?

4. Economics
Hard to fit superstores in tightly packed urban areas
Profit
How Did
This Happen?

5. Central
Glenville
Ohio City
Slavic Village

6. Cancer
Gallstones
Gout
High Blood
Pressure
Heart
Disease
Diabetes
Osteoporosis
Breathing
Problems

7. In 2008…
Cuyahoga County
Heart Disease
48%
20%
79%
Leading cause of death
of adults are Overweight
Consume <5 Fruits/Vegetables Per Day
of adults are obese
Healthy Ohio Community Profiles – Cuyahoga County 2008

8. OBESITY
Fast Food Liquor Stores Pharmacies
Hurts
Yourself Health Care Employers Government

9. “LARGE” GROCERY
Grocery > 25,000 S.F.

10. “FAST FOOD”
Distance to Fast Food (Miles)
Unweighted
0 to 1
1 to 1.5
1.5 to 3.3
(No Population)

11. 25 PERCENT of Cleveland households
do not own a vehicle.
50 % of residents in Central
do not own vehicles.

12. “HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT VEHICLES”
Percent of households without vehicles
25%
Cleveland Average
14%
County Average
0.3 to 14
14 to 25
25 to 50
50 to 66.1
Ohio City
Central
Glenville

13. Let’s Move! Launched by Michelle
Obama
Farmers Markets
City Fresh
Community Gardens
Online Community Supported
Agriculture
Corner Store Project
SOLUTIONS

14. 1. What is it?
2. How Did This Happen?
3. Cuyahoga County
4. Health Risks
5. Obesity
6. “Large” Grocery Chart
7. “Fast Food” Chart
8. “Households Without Vehicles “Chart
9. Solutions