One health problem that New York City faces is the lack of healthy food options available in poor, inner-city neighborhoods. As of 2009, an estimated 750,000 New Yorkers lived in food deserts, or areas where it is difficult to obtain fresh, affordable, raw produce within walking distance (“Fresh Food for Urban Deserts”). This inaccessibility has caused the rates of diabetes and obesity to soar in New York. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, between 2002 and 2004, the rates of obesity and diabetes both increased by 17% in the city, whereas the rest of the country only saw a 6% increase during the same two-year period (Scaperotti). Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the city’s former health commissioner, cited the lack of access to affordable, healthy food in some New York City neighborhoods as a cause of the steep increase in obesity and diabetes (Scaperotti). Although residents of wealthier neighborhoods also contributed to the rising numbers, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene states that the highest rates were found among racial minorities and residents of low-income neighborhoods (Scaperotti).
Because neighborhoods that are deemed food deserts are more populated with bodegas/delis than supermarkets and farmer’s markets, a possible solution to this problem would be to have supermarkets and farmer’s markets sell their unsold, still edible, slightly-past-the-expiration-date produce to bodegas at discount rates so that these products are more readily and cheaply available to residents of such neighborhoods. A lot of produce that isn’t sold by its expiration date is thrown out by markets, even though in many cases that produce is still perfectly edible. Instead of throwing it out and losing money, food markets can make money off of technically expired but still edible goods while providing food deserts with the nutritional resources they lack.
Another health problem that will continue to become increasingly prevalent in New York City is the shortage of primary care physicians. The US Department of Health and Human Resources found that the demand for primary care services will increase throughout the nation through 2020 for two key reasons: an aging and growing population and an expansion of health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (“Projecting the Supple and Demand”). The aging and growth of the nation’s population is especially important because the Department of Health and Human Services predicts that 81% of the increase in demand for primary care will result from this factor (“Projecting the Supply and Demand”). New York City’s population is expected to increase a total of 13.9% between 2000 and 2030 and the number of city’s residents who are 65 and over is expected to increase by 44.2% over the same time period (“New York City Population Projections”). Therefore, the nationwide increase in demand for primary care and the resulting shortage of primary care physicians will affect New York City as well. This means that the number of patients per physician will increase, causing longer wait times between appointments, less personalized care for patients, and overworked doctors who will be more prone to making mistakes.
In addition to creating an increased demand for and shortage of primary care physicians, the aging of New York City’s population will also cause other public health issues. As the city’s baby boomers approach old age, life expectancy increases, and fertility rates decline, the number of elderly people in need of caregivers will outpace the number of people who can provide care for these aging city residents (“New York City Population Projections”). This means that the city will have to assume responsibility for providing care to elderly residents without family members or those whose families are financially incapable or unwilling to care for them. This will likely entail an increase in senior residence facilities, Medicaid, visiting nurse services, food stamps, etc., which will be financially taxing for the city.
Works Cited
“Fresh Food for Urban Deserts.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 Mar. 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
New York City Population Projections by Age/Sex & Borough 2000-2030 (Briefing Booklet) (n.d.): n. pag. New York City Department of Planning, Dec. 2006. Web. 28 Apr. 2015. <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/census/projections_briefing_booklet.pdf>.
“Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 2020.” Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 2020. N.p., Nov. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
Scaperotti, Jessica, Sara Markt, and Celina De Leon. “OBESITY AND DIABETES RISING FASTER IN NYC THAN NATIONALLY.” NYC.gov. The City of New York, 26 Mar. 2008. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
I find your solution to the food deserts problem to be quite innovative. Selling products that are being wasted and giving them to those that need it sounds like a good idea. A good thing to look for if one wanted to implement this is to find statistics of food quality after the expiration date, what risks it could pose, how long it lasts, and the like. The idea sounds fascinating.