When looking at communities that had convenience stores and fast food chains in their vicinity, the outcome of obesity rates have the opposite effect. Meaning, that residents in those neighborhoods choose to go to convenience stores and fast food chains, rather than making the extra effort to go to the supermarket store (Ludwig, 2011). What is the difference? Convenience stores and fast food chains has more food at a lower price, but with a higher density of calories and lower nutritional means. Also, these dirt cheap prices for these meals is an extra incentive to go to these establishments. When a family, living in a low income area has fast food restaurants in close proximity, they will not take the extra time and money to go to a supermarket to buy more expensive food for their family. In the documentary, "Food Stamped" there is a segment that shows a women buying food for her family (Potash, 2010).With a budget of $200.00 a month, she must feed 4 family members for the whole month without running out of funds at the end. So she explains that she buys food that will fill up her family, the cheapest way possible. According to National Fruit and Vegetable Retail Report, the national average for a bag of oranges is about $6.00. On the "value" section of a fast food chain, a family can purchase 4 hamburgers, 4 fries and 4 sodas for the same price of that bag of oranges. From an economic standpoint, it is definitely more of a value to go with the fast food chain. But what is the real price people are paying for this kind of diet?.
Studies have shown that proper urban development can result in a healthier community. Supermarket access inversely is associated with obesity. A number of studies have found correlations between the food environment in neighborhoods and dietary intake. A Study by American Journal of Public Health, found that individuals who had previously consumed fruits and vegetables had significantly increased their weekly fruit and vegetable intake when a local supermarket was made available to them.