Analyzing tweets shows that people living closer to grocery stores make healthier food choices

What you choose to eat is more than a personal preference; food choices are influenced by socioeconomic factors such as household income and cooking skills as well as environmental factors such as accessibility to food retailers. Using Twitter data, Xiang Chen takes stock of personal food choices and their correlation to the environment of available food. He finds that nearby grocery stores have marked effects on promoting healthy eating, while the influence of fast food restaurants is less evident. This is the first time Twitter has assisted in dietary research that seeks to improve food security.