Structural Drivers of Neighborhood Food Access: Implications for Policy Change
Authors' conclusion
The strongest neighborhood-level drivers were social cohesion, criminal justice, and education. Policies that focus on a holistic approach to the neighborhood environment may be needed to improve access to healthy food options at the neighborhood level.
Study context
- Population
- 9597 census tracts across 201 counties within 38 states; redlining defined by Home Owners' Loan Corporation residential security maps
- Participants
- 9,597 census tracts
- Outcome
- Food access (modified retail food environment index)
Methodological detailscensus tract level, structural equation modeling
- Census tract level
- Structural equation modeling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pathways from structural disadvantage to food access (standardized estimates)
- Higher built environment disadvantage → lower food access
- −0.06, p < 0.001
- Higher criminal justice disadvantage → lower food access
- −0.11, p < 0.001
- Higher housing disadvantage → lower food access
- −0.04, p < 0.01
- Higher social cohesion disadvantage → lower food access
- −0.18, p < 0.001
- Higher education disadvantage → higher food access
- 0.07, p < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Structural Drivers of Neighborhood Food Access: Implications for Policy Change. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 16 April 2026. doi:10.
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