Eating at the bowling alley, in the car or on the couch?

For those who eat the majority of their meals away from the dinner table, they may have a valid excuse: they live in a so-called "Food Desert," or an area that has few options for well-priced, fresh produce. After all, not every town has a grocery store nearby, yet other sources of food may be in the vicinity: gas stations, convenience stores, movie theaters, theme parks - any location that serves food, and often that isn't even their main purpose. Dr. Michael Feiz, who performs weight loss surgery in California, proposes that individuals in this situation find ways to be creative with what they have available.

The problem with food deserts is the fact that they are strongly correlated to higher instances of obesity, and with obesity comes obesity-caused illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Becoming more educated about nutrition and exercise is recommended by Dr. Feiz. As a bariatric surgeon, he is accustomed to meeting individuals who may have the handicap of living in a food desert, but he recommends researching healthy eating, for individuals who are concerned that they may be eating too much - especially carbs, fat and calories, from food found at places such as the gas station.

If you are concerned you live in a food desert, feel free to ask Dr. Feiz a question about what you can do to make sure you are eating a healthy diet and maintaining a normal weight.