Stephen Matthews, Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, and Demography at Penn State, was recently interviewed by Healthline regarding his research on food deserts and their impact on obesity. Food deserts are areas where access to fresh produce and other healthy whole foods is limited due to the absence of grocery stores or markets in that area.
Along with his collaborator Coady Wing, assistant professor in Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Matthews found that improved accessibility to fresh healthy foods through new food outlets did not have an impact on their participants’ BMI. This finding contradicts previous research in this field that suggests that people living in food deserts see an effect on their waistlines.
To read the full Healthline story on Matthews’ study, click here.