title: Perceived barriers to accessing adequate nutrition among food insecure households within a food desert.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The US Department of Agriculture has identified an area in La Crosse, Wisconsin as a food desert-a low-income area with a low level of access to a grocery store or healthy, affordable food outlet. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential predictors of severe food insecurity in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires assessing food insecurity and perceived barriers to accessing adequate nutrition were sent out to 2,068 households located within the food desert in La Crosse. Data was analyzed to examine correlations between severe food insecurity and demographics, certain health behaviors, and perceived barriers to nutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall food insecurity existed in 33.9% of households: severe food insecurity with hunger in 14.6%, and without hunger in 19.3%. Significant correlations to severe food insecurity included health insurance status (Medicaid vs private insurance, OR 3.5), renting a home (OR 5.23), identifying the cost of healthy foods as a significant barrier (OR 2.97), having no transportation to a store (OR 3.09), not having enough money (OR 22.88), and currently smoking (OR 3.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe food insecurity was much higher in this population than expected. Clinicians should consider the patient's ability to access and afford healthy food as part of the patient's health history, as well as considering individual and population solutions.
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tolzman
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: R Daniel
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Duquette
authors.forename: Keely
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology