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Updating the cartography and characterization of local food environments within the scope of the AMB

Year of relationship: 2025

Team:

  • Elena Domene
  • Laura Calvet Mir
  • Marta Andreu (Cartography Service)
  • Francesc Coll (Cartography Service)
  • Jorge Cátedra (Fieldwork Service)
  • Núria Ruiz (Statistics Service)
  • Leticia Machado (Intern from the Metròpoli Master's Program)

Institution: AMB, UB, IEGD-CSIC

Access to healthy food depends not only on individual choices but also on the local food environment. The availability, accessibility, and affordability of food in people’s daily lives directly influence their diet and health.
Several studies have shown that living near supermarkets or fresh food stores is associated with healthier eating habits and lower obesity rates. In contrast, the predominant presence of fast food and ultra-processed products is linked to a higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. This phenomenon, widely documented in Anglo-Saxon countries, is also present in the Mediterranean region. In Spain, the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, especially among children and vulnerable populations, contributes to health inequalities.
This study analyzes local food environments in the metropolitan area from a spatial perspective. The aim is to identify food deserts, swamps, and oases and provide a diagnosis of the food environment at both municipal and neighborhood levels. Based on this analysis, policies can be promoted to improve access to healthy food and reduce health inequalities.

Download:

Domene, E. [Elena]; Calvet Mir, L. [Laura]; Andreu, M. [Marta]; Coll, F. [Francesc]; Cátedra, J. [Jorge]; Ruiz, N. [Núria]; Machado, L. [Leticia]. (2025). Updating the cartography and characterization of local food environments within the scope of the AMB
https://www.institutmetropoli.cat/en/estudi/updating-the-cartography-and-characterization-of-local-food-environments-within-the-scope-of-the-amb/