Indicator PR.6.a Food Market Score Why Is This An Indicator Of
Health and Sustainability? Local food environments influence the
options households and individuals have. Access to healthy food
choices is directly correlated to obesity and diabetes rates,
which occur in higher rates among people living in low-income
communities with worse food environments.a Supermarkets may
provide access to a greater variety of cheaper and healthier
foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. This access helps
to facilitate healthier dietary choices. Research has found that
the presence of a supermarket in a neighborhood predicts higher
fruit and vegetable consumption and a reduced prevalence of
overweight and obesity.b,c As a result, problems of under- and
over-nutrition are often attributed to lack of access to
supermarkets.d,e Low-income, minority communities typically have
fewer supermarkets and grocery stores than higher SES
neighborhoods with primarily White residents, and they therefore
disproportionately suffer from