Food banks tackling diabetes? Feeding America releases pilot intervention results

10 Jan 2020 --- Food banks can improve food security, dietary intake and health status for vulnerable individuals, such as those with diabetes Type 2, according to a new report from Feeding America. The study, which was funded by Cargill, took place in Oakland, California, US and provided food bank clients at risk for Type 2 diabetes with a 12-month diabetes prevention intervention. The results demonstrated that food banks can effectively screen clients at high risk for diabetes and can be an important strategic partner for health care systems and community-based organizations working to prevent diabetes in food-insecure populations.

“The people we serve are not only experiencing food insecurity but, in many cases, worrying about their health, including their risk of developing diabetes,” says Dr. Hilary Seligman, Senior Medical Advisor at Feeding America. “Through this study, we learned that food banks can support food security while reducing diabetes risk factors at the same time for people at highest risk of developing the disease.” 

“Participants increased their fruit and vegetable intake, decreased their soda and sweets intake, increased their physical activity and reported better overall physical and mental health. Still, more needs to be done to connect vulnerable populations to health care and other diabetes prevention resources. We look forward to testing promising interventions like this one at a larger scale,” Dr. Seligman adds.

Food banks can improve food security, dietary intake and health status for vulnerable individuals.Hailed as a US network of 200 food banks and the largest domestic hunger-relief organization, Feeding America recently ranked as No. 2 on Forbes’ list of the 100 top charities for 2019. A significant milestone for the organization, the recognition underlined that Feeding America has a 99 percent efficiency rating. This means that 99 percent of contributions go directly into programs that serve people at risk of hunger.

According to a recent US Department of Agriculture food security report, 37 million people live in food-insecure households, meaning they lack access to adequate nutrition. In addition, the effects of food insecurity include poor nutrition and negative impacts on overall health for people across their lifespan. Fresh nutritional foods are not accessible to all. This is especially the case with underprivileged populations who often turn to cheaper and processed alternatives. Most recently, a study found that ultra-processed food could be linked to a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

One-third of households turning to Feeding America food banks for food assistance report having at least one family member with diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 30 million people in the US have diabetes and an additional 84 million adults have prediabetes.

The study screened adult English-speaking and Spanish-speaking food bank clients at food distribution sites for Type 2 diabetes risk. Screenings began in November 2017 and the intervention components, including monthly diabetes-appropriate food packages, text-based health education and referrals to health care, were delivered between November 2017 and March 2019. A total of 244 individuals participated in the study.

In this space, food security remains a major global issue and three UN agencies launched an initiative in 2019 that seeks to empower rural women and men through improved food security and better nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) addressed the root causes of rural gender disparities and thus strengthen efforts to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture. The EU supported the initiative by allocating €5 million (US$5.6 million) to finance the four-year program.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou