Lecture on Food Deserts and Social Determinants of Health

Introduction

• Common childhood fears: dentist, doctor shots.
• Speaker's unique anxiety: supermarket visits.
• Raised in a food desert: areas lacking access to affordable, healthy food.
• Personal story: Ozone Park, Queens - 24-minute walk to the nearest supermarket.

Personal Experiences

• Weekly grocery trips with mom for a family of seven.
• Temptation of fast food and convenience stores due to budget constraints.
• Health consequences of relying on unhealthy food options.

Food Deserts vs. Food Apartheid

• 51 million Americans in low-access communities, often low-income and minorities.
• Impact on Black and Hispanic communities.
• Food apartheid: systemic, discriminatory policies leading to lack of access.

Local Community Challenges

• Limited access to healthy food and other resources in Queens.
• Local deli's lack of fresh produce.
• Community more reliant on delis than supermarkets.

Broader Health Impacts

• Access to gyms and healthcare is limited.
• Long commutes to quality education.
• Example: Speaker attended Townsend Harris High School, requiring long travel.

Social Determinants of Health

• Factors influencing health beyond medical care: location, education, access to food.
• Personal anecdote of social mobility due to opportunities outside local community.

Call to Thought

• Encourages reflection on individual hometowns and health resources.
• Emphasis on behavioral and environmental influences on health outcomes.

Addressing Health Inequities

• Solution Suggestions:
  • Invest in healthy food retailers in low-income areas.
  • Provide transportation vouchers.
  • Encourage supermarkets and farmers markets to accept EBT.
• Importance of providing healthy meals in schools.

Conclusion

• Highlight systemic issues beyond individual choices.
• Aim to improve quality of life and opportunities in disadvantaged areas.
• Encourage community thriving, not just surviving.