Understanding What Percentage of Americans Don't Have Access to Healthy Food

December 6, 2025 •

2 min read

According to a September 2024 USDA report, roughly one in seven U.S. households struggled with food insecurity in 2023, representing millions of people without consistent access to adequate nutrition. This widespread issue is driven by factors including poverty, location, and systemic barriers that shape what percentage of Americans don't have access to healthy food.

Quick Summary

A significant percentage of Americans lack consistent access to healthy food due to systemic barriers like food deserts and low income. This issue is complex and disproportionately affects certain communities, leading to adverse health outcomes.

Key Points

Food Insecurity Rates: In 2023, approximately 13.5% of U.S. households were food insecure, representing millions of individuals.
Food Deserts Impact: Almost 19 million people live in low-income, low-access food deserts, limiting their options for healthy, affordable food.
Socioeconomic Barriers: Low income and high costs of living are primary drivers of food insecurity, exacerbated by rising food prices.
Disproportionate Impact: Racial minorities, particularly Black and Latinx households, experience food insecurity at significantly higher rates due to systemic inequalities.
Health Consequences: Lack of healthy food access is linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues.
Addressing Root Causes: Solutions involve policy interventions like strengthening SNAP, incentivizing grocery stores in underserved areas, and supporting community-based initiatives.

Defining the Lack of Healthy Food Access

Understanding the terms used is crucial. Lack of healthy food access is primarily measured through food insecurity and food deserts.

Food Insecurity: The USDA defines this as having limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods. In 2023, about 13.5% of households faced this challenge.
Food Deserts: These are areas where residents have limited access to affordable, nutritious food. The USDA Economic Research Service defines these as "low-income, low-access" communities. This means a poverty rate of 20% or higher or a median family income at or below 80% of the area's average (low-income), and at least 500 people or 33% of residents live more than a mile from a supermarket in urban areas or more than 10 miles in rural areas (low-access). Nearly 19 million people reside in low-income, low-access areas.

Both physical proximity and economic affordability determine access.

Factors Influencing Healthy Food Access

Several factors create barriers to healthy food access.

Socioeconomic Status: Low income is a major predictor of food insecurity, with financial instability and the high cost of living making healthy food less accessible.
Race and Ethnicity: Food insecurity disproportionately affects Black and Latinx households compared to White families, often linked to historical disinvestment in certain neighborhoods.
Geography: Urban low-income neighborhoods and rural areas both face challenges, including limited availability of affordable grocery stores and inadequate transportation options.

Comparison of Rural vs. Urban Healthy Food Access


Feature	Urban Low-Access Areas	Rural Low-Access Areas
Distance to Supermarket	Often over one mile away.	Often over ten miles away.
Food Availability	Limited to expensive convenience stores and fast-food.	Limited options locally, requiring longer travel.
Transportation	Public transportation may be inconvenient or unreliable.	Limited or no public transportation.
Cost	High prices at local outlets.	High costs for food and transportation.

Health Consequences of Limited Access

Poor nutrition linked to limited access has severe health implications.

Obesity and Chronic Disease: Diets high in sugar and fat contribute to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Mental Health: Food uncertainty can negatively impact mental well-being.
Life Expectancy: Limited access is associated with shorter life expectancy, especially in low-income areas.

Solutions to Improve Healthy Food Access

Addressing this issue requires multi-faceted approaches.

Strengthening Food Assistance Programs: Programs like SNAP are vital; expanding access and increasing benefits can help.
Encouraging Grocery Store Development: Incentivizing grocery stores in underserved areas can improve physical access.
Supporting Community-Based Solutions: Local food banks, farmers' markets, and similar initiatives empower communities. Learn more at Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/.
Improving Transportation: Better public transit or mobile markets can overcome physical barriers.

Conclusion

A significant percentage of Americans lack access to healthy food due to complex systemic issues like socioeconomic status, racial disparities, and geographic location. This is not simply a matter of personal choice but a problem requiring policy changes, community investment, and targeted support to create a more equitable food system where healthy food is accessible to all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Food insecurity describes a household's limited or uncertain ability to acquire nutritionally adequate food. A food desert is a geographical area where a significant portion of the population has limited access to affordable, healthy food options due to their proximity to supermarkets.

Limited access is caused by several factors, including a lack of grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods, insufficient public transportation options, and the higher cost of food in convenience stores compared to supermarkets.

Yes, individuals living in food deserts are more likely to have poor health outcomes, including higher rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, often due to a reliance on less nutritious, processed foods.

Food deserts exist in both rural and urban areas. Urban residents in food deserts often face a lack of nearby stores, while rural residents face long travel distances (over 10 miles) to the nearest supermarket.

Policies can help by expanding and strengthening federal food assistance programs like SNAP, providing incentives for grocery store development in underserved communities, and investing in transportation infrastructure to connect people with food sources.

Income heavily affects access by determining affordability. Low-income families must often make tradeoffs between food and other necessities, leading them to purchase cheaper, less nutritious food or skip meals entirely.

While programs like SNAP provide vital assistance, they do not fully eliminate food insecurity. Factors such as benefit amounts, high food costs, and systemic barriers mean that many families still face significant challenges in accessing and affording a nutritious diet.