Development of a System Dynamics Model to Guide Retail Food Store Policies in Baltimore City.

ABSTRACT: Policy interventions to improve food access and address the obesity epidemic among disadvantaged populations are becoming more common throughout the United States. In Baltimore MD, corner stores are a frequently used source of food for low-income populations, but these stores often do not provide a range of affordable healthy foods. This research study aimed to assist city policy makers as they considered implementing a Staple Food Ordinance (SFO) that would require small stores to provide a range and depth of stock of healthy foods. A System Dynamics (SD) model was built to simulate the complex Baltimore food environment and produce optimal values for key decision variables in SFO planning. A web-based application was created for users to access this model to optimize future SFOs, and to

SUBMITTER: Zhu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8465929 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature