Food Environment Index

About

Index of factors that contribute to a healthy food environment, from 0 (worst) to 10 (best). The 2025 Annual Data Release used data from 2019 & 2022 for this measure.

The Food Environment Index accounts for both proximity to healthy foods and income. This measure includes access to healthy foods by considering the distance an individual lives from a grocery store or supermarket, locations for healthy food purchases in most communities, and the inability to access healthy food because of cost and transportation barriers.

There is strong evidence that food deserts are correlated with high prevalence of overweight, obesity, and premature death as supermarkets traditionally provide healthier options than convenience stores or smaller grocery stores.1-4 Additionally, those with low incomes may face barriers to accessing a consistent source of healthy food. Lacking consistent access to food is related to negative health outcomes such as weight gain, premature mortality, asthma, and activity limitations, as well as increased health care costs.5-8

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The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Model of Health

Use the model to explore the measures of how long and how well we live and what shapes these trends. Select a measure in the diagram or browse the list of all measures.

Measures marked with an asterisk (*) are not included in summary calculations for Population Health and Well-being or Community Conditions.

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2025

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