Eating Behavior
The built environment affects not just exercise levels but also eating behaviors. Proximity to a supermarket is one of the strongest predictors of whether low-income people will eat a healthful diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, because supermarkets stock and sell more fresh produce than neighborhood grocery stores. The number of supermarkets in poor urban areas has dropped steadily in recent decades. Tax incentives could attract supermarkets to these neighborhoods, and zoning restrictions could limit the number of fast-food restaurants in a given community.
The Rudd Center has a keen interest in this aspect of the built environment. Stay tuned for research updates on this front.