Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between urban food deserts
and frequency and obstetric outcomes related to gestational diabetes.
Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton births in Chicago from 2010
to 2014. Birth certificate data were analyzed and geomapped by census tract. Census
tracts were categorized as “food deserts” according to the USDA Food Access Research
Atlas. The primary outcome was frequency of gestational diabetes. Secondary outcomes
were assessed among women with gestational diabetes and their neonates.
Results Of the 191,947 eligible women, 8,709 (4.5%) were diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Those in food deserts were more likely to be younger, obese, minority race/ethnicity,
and multiparous. Women in food deserts were less likely to develop gestational diabetes
(3.8 vs. 4.8%, p < 0.01; adjusted odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.86–0.96). Women with
gestational diabetes did not experience worse maternal and neonatal outcomes after
controlling for potential confounders.
Conclusion In contrast to prior work, women in Chicago living within food deserts were less
likely to develop gestational diabetes and did not experience poorer outcomes, suggesting
environmental factors other than food access contribute to perinatal outcomes.
Keywords
food desert - gestational diabetes mellitus - health outcomes - food access
