Food Deserts and Childhood Obesity: The Hidden Hunger Crisis

Written by Anna-Liza Badaloo

Medically Reviewed by Sarah Daglis, ND, MS

Published February 25, 2025
Last Updated February 26, 2025

Natural Health Equity with Anna-Liza Badaloo is a monthly column that explores disproportionate health effects on equity-deserving communities. Learn more about Anna-Liza and her work here. The opinions expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of INM.

More than two million people live more than a mile from the nearest supermarket without access to a car. So where do they get their food? Out of necessity, many turn to convenience stores, gas stations, and fast food chains as their primary sources of nutrition.¹ However, true nourishment is often scarce in these areas—known as food deserts—where processed and fried foods dominate.

The challenge of food deserts isn’t just about what’s missing; it’s also about the limitations of what’s available. Most of what’s cheap and accessible in food deserts contains high amounts of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

For many families, the reality is stark: fresh fruits, vegetables, quality proteins, and complex carbs are simply too expensive. The industrial food complex has made unhealthy food cheaper and more accessible, particularly in marginalized communities. With grocery prices soaring and limited or no access to healthy, affordable options, food insecurity is a constant concern.¹^,²

Areas where fast food restaurants are the only choice are strongly linked to obesity. Socioeconomic factors also matter, with high poverty and adult obesity rates in a neighborhood or state reliably predicting excess weight in children.¹

In 1975, less than 1 percent of children worldwide were obese.¹ Fast-forward to data from 2017 to 2020, when 19.7 percent of U.S. children and adolescents were classified as obese. Breaking it down further, “obese” categorized 12.7 percent of 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.7 percent of 6- to 11-year-olds, and 22.2 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds. The numbers are even more concerning among Latino and Black children, who experience obesity at higher rates than their white peers.³

This crisis isn’t just about weight—it’s about long-term health and disease prevention. Obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and joint issues.

BMI and weight are just two pieces of the puzzle

Healthy school lunch with sandwich, fruit, and vegetables

Body mass index (BMI) alone isn’t the best measure of childhood nutrition, and it certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. Similarly, weight is just one indicator of well-being. A more accurate picture of health comes from comparing children’s diets to their age-appropriate nutritional needs while also considering financial constraints and the impact of systemic inequalities. Like adults, children benefit from a whole-person approach to health—one that acknowledges the challenges faced by equity-deserving communities.⁴

Beyond calorie counts, tracking micronutrient intake—such as essential vitamins and minerals—can provide deeper insight into a child’s health. Physical activity levels are another key factor.¹

Taking an education-based approach to childhood wellness

Kids learn to cook fresh food with chef in school kitchen

Good nutrition is the foundation of lifelong health, yet many children lack the resources and education needed for proper guidance. Naturally Well, a program by the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM), is working to change that. Over 10 weeks, a naturopathic doctor leads hands-on workshops in schools and community hubs, making nutrition education fun and accessible. Kids explore the connections between diet, gardening, and cooking, learning the essentials of healthy living:

Prevention and positive lifestyle choices
Fresh food, vitamins, and supplements
The mind–body connection
Family involvement and support
Incorporating movement and wellness activities

Just as NDs look beyond diet in their practice, the Naturally Well program provides a comprehensive approach to nutrition and wellness. By building these skills early, kids are empowered to make better choices for their well-being—now and in the future.

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Footnotes

1
Key J, Burnett D, Babu JR, Geetha T. The effects of food environment on obesity in children: a systematic review. Children (Basel). 2023;10(1):98. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/1/98
2
Shier V, An R, Sturm R. Is there a robust relationship between neighbourhood food environment and childhood obesity in the USA? Public Health. 2012;126(9):723-730. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033350612002132?via%3Dihub
3
Stierman B, Afful J, Carroll MD. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files—Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes. Natl Health Stat Report. 2021 Jun 14;(158):10.15620/cdc:106273. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/106273
4
Rosen L, Felice KT, Walsh T. Kids in crisis: The whole health learning solution. EXPLORE. 2023 Jun 19. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830723001258?via%3Dihub

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This article is provided by

The Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. INM’s mission is to transform health care in the United States by increasing public awareness of natural medicine and access to naturopathic doctors. Naturopathic medicine, with its person-centered principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness overwhelming healthcare systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain optimal lifelong health. INM strives to fulfil this mission through the following initiatives:

Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of evidence-based natural medicine
Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
Research – Expand quality research on this complex and comprehensive system of medicine

About The Author(s)

INM Team Writer

Anna-Liza Badaloo

Anna-Liza Badaloo (she/her) is a queer, Indo-Caribbean, journalist, facilitator, and organizational consultant working at the intersection of health, environment, and social justice. Committed to amplifying diverse voices, her work uncovers how colonial, capitalist, heteronormative, and ableist systems disproportionately impact underserved communities. The former Manager of Education and Community Development at the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, currently she hosts the Institute for Natural Medicine’s podcast The ND Will See You Now and writes about integrative medicine and health equity. She is an Associate with the Sustainability Network building environmental non-profit capacity using Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles, and is a regular contributor to magazines including QBiz, She is Wise, The Monitor, and The Aboriginal Business Report.

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Food Deserts and Childhood Obesity: The Hidden Hunger Crisis

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BMI and weight are just two pieces of the puzzle

Taking an education-based approach to childhood wellness