Race, Ethnicity, and Consumption by Patricia A. Banks

Author:Patricia A. Banks [Banks, Patricia A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138562615
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2020-07-09T00:00:00+00:00

Food Swamps

Areas with an abundance of fast food are sometimes referred to as food swamps. One reason that scholars and policy makers are attentive to fast-food exposure is racial differences in fast-food consumption. African Americans consume more fast food than other racial and ethnic groups such as whites (Pereira et al. 2005). Neighborhood exposure is hypothesized to be one factor that contributes to different levels of fast-food consumption across racial and ethnic groups. There is also evidence suggesting that eating fast food is associated with increased risk of obesity and related ailments such as insulin resistance (Kwate 2008, 33).

Some studies find that a higher concentration of African American residents is associated with increased fast-food access (Block et al. 2004; Kwate 2008). One study examined how the percentage of black residents in a census block group (CBG) is related to the average driving distance to fast-food restaurants. Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, and other chains included on a list of top ten fast-food restaurants were studied. Fast-food access was positively associated with the percentage of black residents in an area. For example, the average distance to fast-food restaurants was 2.45 miles shorter in New York CBGs with the highest, as opposed to the lowest, percentage of black residents (James et al. 2014, 12–13) (Figure 5.2).

Figure 5.2 Exterior of a McDonald’s restaurant.

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