South Phoenix Community-Based Needs Assessment

According to the CDC, over 1/3 of Americans are considered obese (CDC, 2015). Being overweight makes individuals at high risk for developing countless diseases that lead to premature death. Most of these diseases are preventable with healthy weight attained by nutritious diet and regular exercise. People living in food deserts such as Harmon have limited access to healthy food options. Access to supermarkets and nutritious foods is connected to healthy body weight and decreased obesity while increased access to convenience stores is connected to increased obesity rates (Beaulac et al., 2009). A survey was formulated for residents of the Harmon community to better understand their food preferences, limitations, and needs. The results gathered from the survey indicate that people in Harmon have a desire to eat healthfully, but there are barriers such as access and price of food that limit their ability to make smart food choices. The survey results also suggest that there is a potential lack of understanding regarding nutrition and what healthful eating actually means.