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MEDICAL STUDENT

PERSPECTIVES

ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS IS KEY TO
MANAGING OBESITY

By Amanda Wedelich

The prevalence of obesity in our country is on the rise, lead-
ing to an increase in chronic diseases. In the United States, there have been cases
of type 2 diabetes diagnosed in children as young as 9 due to obesity and bariatric
surgery performed in children as young as 12. (4) In Bexar county, 71 percent of
individuals are either overweight or obese. Of Bexar county adults, 14 percent
have diabetes, which is higher than both the state and national average. (1) Pre-
vention is imperative.

There are multiple reasons for these recent trends including an increase in fam-
ilies eating fast food meals, less access to produce and nutritious foods, increased
consumption of prepackaged, high fat items, and a reduction in cooking sit-down
meals. Some communities lack available healthy food choices, with no grocery
store in the area. (4) These people are forced to either travel long distances to pur-
chase food on a regular basis, buy fast food/restaurant items, or stock up on
prepackaged meals with a later expiration date. Bexar County, is comprised of 70
ZIP codes, each with differing access to healthy food choices. Places to purchase groceries in the county range from convenience stores
to high-end health food stores.

An analysis was performed to determine the availability of healthy food choices for Bexar County residents. Each of the s70 ZIP
code areas were assessed for the presence of convenience stores, grocery stores, and high-end grocery stores. The category of grocery
stores consisted of HEB, Wal-mart, Fiesta, Arlan’s, Fort Sam Houston Commissary, and Lackland Commissary. The following stores
were considered high-end grocery stores: Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Central Market, and Natural Grocers. The ZIP codes
were then grouped into a location (North, East, South, West, and Central) and designated as either inside or outside the 1604 loop.

Of the 70 areas in Bexar County, 28 had solely convenience stores as their options for purchasing groceries. Thirty-seven out of 70
had grocery stores and convenience stores present, and a total of five of the 70 areas had all three categories including high-end grocery
stores. When arranged by location, all ZIP codes with high-end grocery stores were found in the north, ZIP codes with grocery stores
were scattered throughout the city, and solely convenience stores were predominantly outside the 1604 loop.

Those living in areas without access to healthy food choices may end up having to purchase more prepackaged items, which are high
in fat and sugar. They also have easier access to restaurants and fast food locations which provide high calorie, non-nutritious food
choices. Even those with access to grocery stores, as opposed to high-end grocery stores, are offered fewer healthy food options. So-
lutions for this problem include teaching community members how to grow their own fruits and vegetables, showing families how to
prepare healthy meals at home, and finding ways to bring healthy foods to the areas that lack through temporary, recurring markets or
food trucks that sell produce.

REFERENCES:
1. Arias P. 71 percent of Bexar County residents are overweight or obese. KSAT. https://www.ksat.com/health/71-percent-of-bexar-

county-residents-are-overweight-or-obese. Published April 6, 2016. Accessed December 1, 2017.
2. Google Maps. https://www.google.com/maps. Accessed November 20, 2017.
3. P. Bexar County Zip Code Map. Zip Code Map. http://www.yourlincolnpark.com/bexar-county-zip-code-map.html. Published July

6, 2017. Accessed December 1, 2017.
4. Rome ES. Obesity Prevention and Treatment. Pediatrics in Review. http://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/32/9/363.

Published September 1, 2011. Accessed November 30, 2017.
5. U.S. ZIP Codes: Free ZIP code map and zip code lookup. UnitedStatesZipCodes. https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/. Accessed

November 20, 2017.

Amanda Wedelich is a second year medical student at The University of Texas Health at San Antonio Long School of Medicine.

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