Report Shows Bronx Food Environment Inhibits Healthy Living
It may be tough for people in the Bronx to maintain a healthy diet. That's because fresh foods aren't as readily available in the borough.
That's according to a recent report released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It says bodegas and fast food restaurants make up 65 percent of the borough's food environment.
Joel Berg with the Coalition Against Hunger says the Bronx is the poorest and hungriest urban county in the nation. But he says that doesn't mean what many might think.
"Hunger and obesity are actually flip sides on the same malnutrition coin," he said. "When people can't afford the healthiest food, they eat less nutritious, more filling food; and that's why the greatest irony of the world is people in food insecure households can actually be obese"
Berg says the best way to remedy the situation would be to raise the minimum wage and increase access to food stamps.