Food deserts

Food deserts has been studied in 1 paper since 2026: 1 observational study in people; 1 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 1, 2026: “Food deserts linked to higher death rates in UK Biobank”.

Exposure

1 paper studies it2 findingsUpdated Oct 1, 2026

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 1

“FD (per SD increase) was associated with higher ACM risk (HR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09) after adjustment for demographics and deprivation, attenuating after full adjustment.”

Structural food access inequalities and aging transitions: A geospatial, multistate and longitudinal analysis of UK BiobankSocial science & medicine (1982)2026doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119991

None of its findings points the other way.

1 lab

Funder: National Institute on Aging

Humans1

What is Food deserts linked with?

Studies link Food deserts with 2 measures, most often white matter microstructure decline (1 study) and mortality (1).

White matter microstructure decline

upin humans1

1 study

Food deserts are associated with white matter microstructure decline in humans (Neuroimaging association did not survive FDR correction) (ODmean β=+0.1124; p=0.028; did not survive FDR correction).
“FD also predicted faster WMM decline among women (ODmean β=+0.1124; p=0.028), though neuroimaging associations did not survive FDR correction.”
HumansNeuroimaging association did not survive FDR correctionbrain white matterfemales
Food deserts linked to higher death rates in UK Biobank
Social science & medicine (1982)Oct 1, 2026

Mortality

upin humans1HR 1.06

1 study

Food deserts are associated with mortality in humans (Adjusted for demographics and deprivation; association attenuated after full adjustment) (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.09 per SD increase).
“FD (per SD increase) was associated with higher ACM risk (HR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09) after adjustment for demographics and deprivation, attenuating after full adjustment.”
HumansAdjusted for demographics and deprivation; association attenuated after full adjustmentper SD increaseJanuary 1, 2020, to January 1, 2024n = 262,847
Food deserts linked to higher death rates in UK Biobank
Social science & medicine (1982)Oct 1, 2026

Latest

1 paper in 12 months

Social Science & MedicineNov 1

Food deserts linked to higher death rates in UK Biobank

For each standard-deviation increase in area food-desert scores, the death-rate ratio was 1.06 after initial adjustments; the association weakened with fuller adjustment.For each standard-deviation increase in area food-desert scores, the death-rate ratio was 1.06 after initial adjustments; the association weakened with fuller adjustment.

Cohort · 262,847 peoplePopulations

Paper

Food deserts

What is Food deserts linked with?

Latest

Food deserts linked to higher death rates in UK Biobank

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