Food Deserts, Swamps Linked to Increased Risk of Death From Obesity-Related Cancers

U.S. counties with food deserts or food swamps tend to have higher rates of death from obesity-related cancers, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology. Having a high rate of obesity-related cancer deaths was 59% more likely in counties with high food desert scores and 77% more likely in counties with high food swamp scores, researchers found. They calculated food desert scores as the proportion of each county’s population living more than 1 mile from a grocery store and living at least 200% below the federal poverty threshold. Food swamp scores were calculated as the ratio of fast food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores and farmers markets. Read more in Cancer Therapy Advisor here.