Not having close access to healthy foods can deter motivated dieters too

A new study has revealed that not having close access to healthy foods can deter even the most motivated dieters from improving their diet.

The study suggests that easy access to healthy food is as important as personal motivation and professional guidance from health care providers.

The study from UMass Medical School and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found that even among these motivated individuals, those who travelled a shorter distance from home to the nearest food store with adequate healthy food choices, defined as at least one item in each of 20 categories, achieved greater gains in dietary fiber consumption and total fruit and vegetable servings.

Wenjun Li said that their study is different. It looks at whether neighborhood environment becomes a limiting factor when a person wants to improve their diet.

The study was published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.