# “Sometimes We Can’t Afford the Healthy Stuff”: Perceptions of Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Healthy Food Accessibility Among Black Women Living in Public Housing

## TL;DR

Black women in public housing face barriers to healthy eating, which contributes to high rates of cardiovascular disease.

## Contribution

The study reveals how food insecurity and cost barriers affect heart-healthy eating among Black women in public housing.

## Key findings

- Participants reported limited access to affordable healthy foods.
- Cost control measures were used to maximize food budgets for healthier eating.
- Plant-based diets may help reduce heart disease risks and food insecurity.

## Abstract

African American women living in public housing carry a heavy burden of cardiovascular disease. Eating a heart-healthy diet is crucial to achieving optimal heart health, yet this health disparity population encounters major barriers to healthy eating. This study explored their perceptions of healthy eating and cardiovascular disease. Participants were recruited from public housing in a mid-sized city. Six 2-h focus groups with 32 women were conducted. Focus groups were analyzed using deductive coding. The major focus group findings focused on a limited access to affordable healthy foods. Participants also discussed the use of cost control measures to maximize household food budgets to access healthy foods and the ability to eat healthily. Our findings indicate that food insecurity persists for the populations most at-risk for cardiovascular disease. Plant-based diets may offer a culturally sensitive, innovative, and sustainable approach to reducing heart health risks, alleviating food insecurity, and promoting optimal health outcomes.