Affordable eats might not be gourmet, according to a recent study, but dollar stores aren't the culprits behind deteriorating diets.
In a recent study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, scientists from Tufts University and the USDA-Economic Research Service delved into the question of how dollar stores have influenced our diets.
The study revealed that dollar stores, which made up 3.4% of a household's total calories in 2008, nearly doubled to 6.5% by 2020. As these stores have become a ubiquitous presence across the U.S. over the past few decades, towns and neighborhoods have taken measures to limit their growth.
Some local governments have imposed moratoriums on new dollar store permits, zoning changes to prohibit new stores near existing ones, and incentivized full-service grocery stores to attract them. For instance, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a six-month moratorium was passed on new small-box discount stores in a district, followed by zoning changes banning dollar stores within a mile of each other in certain areas and reducing parking requirements to favor grocery stores.
Despite these efforts, over 25 local governments have enacted such limits, but the effectiveness of these policies remains unclear. Regarding the impact on Americans' diets, the study shows that while dollar stores often sell less nutritious items like sweets and packaged snacks, the overall diet quality of households shopping there remains similar to those who do not.
The researchers analyzed yearly data from a nationally representative sample of Americans' household food purchases. They found that people who never buy food from dollar stores have a healthy eating score of 50.5, while those who most shop at these stores have a score of 46.3 (scale goes to 100). However, the overall diet quality wasn't significantly different between those who shop at dollar stores and those who don't.
The study also found that food purchased from dollar stores is less healthy compared to food bought elsewhere. Sean Cash, an economist at Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, stated that more data is needed on the real effects of dollar stores on healthy eating.
The researchers argue that more study is needed to understand exactly how dollar stores are shaping people's eating habits. They used USDA data to rate the quality of people's store-bought food and found that people of color, people living in rural neighborhoods, and those with lower incomes were more likely to buy foods from dollar stores.
The study tracked the food purchasing habits of nearly 200,000 American families. It revealed a growing number of people are buying food from dollar stores, particularly people with lower incomes. While the study provides valuable insights, it also underscores the need for continued research to fully understand the complex relationship between dollar stores and Americans' diets.
- Gizmodo recently reported on a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that delved into the influence of dollar stores on our diets, suggesting that food purchased from them may be less healthy compared to food bought elsewhere.
- Despite the growing number of people, particularly those with lower incomes, buying food from dollar stores, a study found that the overall diet quality of households shopping there remains similar to those who do not.
- The future implications of the increase in dollar stores, a common sight in health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition-focused communities, on Americans' food-and-drink choices and lifestyle are yet to be fully understood.
- Technology can play a role in promoting healthier food choices; there are fitness apps, nutrition trackers, and community-based platforms that support healthy eating and wellness.
- Moving forward, science must continue to explore and find effective ways to ensure affordable, quality, and nutritious food choices for all, addressing the disparities in food access observed among people of color, those living in rural neighborhoods, and lower-income households.
