Obesity and Food Access: Do Consumer Preferences Matter

The existing literature is mixed on the degree and type of food access that matters for obesity. This may be because studies do not consider the degree that consumers are satisfied with the local food establishments. For instance, a supermarket may have little impact on obesity if consumers prefer to go elsewhere. This paper contributes to the literature by disaggregating different aspects of the food environment, exploring smaller geographic areas than many other studies, and examining whether consumer preferences for different food establishments matter. We find evidence that the benefits of supermarkets in reducing obesity are concentrated in those preferred by consumers. In addition, while less robust, we find the negative effects of convenience stores, and takeout restaurants are mostly attributable to poorly rated establishments. Policy should focus on not only addressing food deserts but also areas that have supermarkets that consumers feel are poor options. JEL Codes: I12, D12, Q18, R3