Study links greater dollar store food access with higher rates of several health problems.
A new study from the University of California, Riverside, has connected a number of dollar stores in an area with several common health problems. Researchers reported that communities with greater access to dollar store food had higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Areas with more traditional grocery stores tended to show better health results. The findings do not suggest that shopping at a dollar store directly causes a person to develop a disease. Instead, researchers found a pattern between the types of food available in these stores and the overall health of the surrounding communities. The study also found that the pattern remained after researchers considered factors such as income and unemployment.
The research was led by Ryan Bruellman, a doctoral student at UC Riverside. The project began with an interest in food outlets that are not usually counted as grocery stores in health studies. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, the former 99 Cents Only Stores, and Family Dollar were included in the research. Together, those businesses account for tens of thousands of locations across the U.S.
Researchers used information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with maps showing where dollar stores and traditional grocery stores were located. The study looked at whether homes were within about a 10-minute drive of different types of stores. Researchers also considered a measure of social hardship, which looks at problems communities may face when trying to afford basic needs such as food. The results differed from place to place. The South and Midwest had especially large numbers of dollar stores compared with traditional grocery stores. In some areas, the ratio was close to one dollar store for every traditional grocery store. Researchers said the larger number of these stores may help explain why the connection with health was stronger in some regions.
The study also had some notable limitations. Smaller food markets, corner stores, and other independent businesses were not always included in the available data. Philadelphia was given as one example where smaller neighborhood stores may have affected the results. Those businesses can provide food options that are not captured when researchers only count large grocery chains and dollar stores.
Food quality was a major part of the researchers’ concern. Dollar stores can o fer inexpensive food, but many products available at such stores are packaged or highly processed. Fresh produce, meats, and other foods that can form part of a balanced diet may be harder to find in some locations. For families dealing with rising grocery costs, low prices can make these stores an important part of regular food shopping. Researchers said reducing the number of dollar stores is not the answer. Instead, communities could work on making healthier food easier to find in the same areas. Possible steps include partnerships between stores and local farms, bringing farmers markets closer to neighborhoods, and expanding food banks or other food programs.
The study also points to a larger issue involving the cost of healthy food. When families have limited money, distance, transportation, and food prices can all affect shopping choices. Having a grocery store nearby does not always mean that a household can afford the food sold there. The research team hopes their findings will encourage communities and lawmakers to look at food access in a broader way. Better health may depend not only on having a store nearby, but also on having affordable choices that provide the nutrients needed for a healthy diet.
Sources:
The hidden health cost of dollar store groceries
Study links dollar store food quality to worse health outcomes
Dollar Store Groceries May Come With a Hidden Health Risk, Study Finds
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