In Mississippi, Growing Vegetables in a 'Food Desert'

HEALTH -- June 3, 2010 at 5:12 PM EDT

In Mississippi, Growing Vegetables in a 'Food Desert'

Mississippi has the highest rate of childhood obesity in the country -- 44 percent of kids ages 10 to 17 are obese or overweight. Recently, the NewsHour health unit traveled to the state to look at some causes of -- and possible solutions to -- the problem.

In the first report, correspondent Betty Ann Bowser talked to local officials, public health experts and families about efforts in the region to combat obesity, including taking fried food out of schools and bringing more physical education programs in.

On Thursday's NewsHour, we'll examine the issue of "food deserts" -- areas where residents have a hard time finding access to fresh, healthy foods. Many towns in the Delta could be considered food deserts, even though they're surrounded by farmland. Below, watch a Web-only report on efforts to teach local students to grow their own vegetables.

Learn more about the issue in this U.S. Department of Agriculture's report. You can also examine access to food in your own community in the department's Food Environment Atlas.

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