The demonstration of the new mapping tool follows First Lady Michelle Obama's launch of the Let's Move! campaign, a high-priority initiative to address childhood obesity within a generation. The food environment atlas will help to jump-start a national discussion on childhood nutrition, health, and well-being. The Food Environment Atlas is at www.ers.usda.gov/foodatlas. Learn more about the Let's Move! campaign by visiting www.LetsMove.gov.
"The First Lady has set an aggressive goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation because this epidemic is keeping our children from reaching their potential, and we're going to need new tools, greater collaboration, and new partnerships to address this crisis," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "As we continue working to improve the nutrition of our kids, this new food atlas will be an important tool to help decision makers become more aware of local challenges that impact the overall health and nutrition of the American people in their local communities."
Factors such as food prices, household income, and proximity and access to grocery stores in a community are among the potential determinants of balanced, healthy diets. These "food environment" factors interact to influence food choices and diet quality, and also reflect the outcome in terms of residents' well-being.
- Food Choices-Indicators of the community's access to and acquisition of healthy, affordable food. Examples are access and proximity to a grocery store; number of food stores and restaurants; expenditures on fast foods; food and nutrition assistance program participation; quantities of foods eaten; food prices; food taxes; and availability of local foods.
- Health and Well-Being-Indicators of the community's success in maintaining healthy diets. Examples are food insecurity; diabetes and obesity rates; and physical activity levels.
- Community characteristics-Indicators of community characteristics that might influence the food environment. Examples are demographic composition; income and poverty; population loss; urban versus rural location; natural amenities; and recreation and fitness centers.
