Nutrition insecurity a “threat to public health” in US

28 Jun 2022 --- Many US citizens have poor access to nutritious food, in turn impacting their health, according to a paper by the American College of Physicians (ACP). The research calls on policymakers to take action in a bid to address food and nutrition insecurity to improve public health.

“Strengthening access to good nutrition is a public health imperative as we know that food insecurity is associated with worse mental and physical health, worse health outcomes, and an increased risk of diet-related illnesses and health conditions,” says Dr. Ryan Mire, president at ACP.

“Looking at the big picture, we need to undertake efforts to reform our food nutrition systems and to research and implement innovative and sustainable systems in addressing food insecurity.”

ACP notes that approximately 10% of people in the US are food insecure, which can be linked to several health concerns, including an increased risk of birth deformities, anemia, inadequate nutrient intake, cognitive impairments, asthma, poor oral health and behavioral and mental health problems in childhood.

Eyeing the financials
The ACP recommends that all people have sufficient access to wholesome foods and policymakers must prioritize tackling food insecurity and the nutritional factors that influence health in terms of money and policy.

Additionally, the goal of reducing food insecurity and promoting safe and healthy diets requires enough funding and assistance from policymakers.

Policymakers should improve the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) to meet the needs better and promote the health of people who lack access to enough food, the researchers note.

According to ACP, the US has a moral and public health obligation to address food insecurity comprehensively.“ACP sees issues that could be improved. ACP feels that federal food assistance programs such as SNAP or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) can be improved,” adds Mire.

“Strict qualification requirements and inadequate benefit calculation formulas have created a case scenario where it is still inadequate for patients to be able to afford healthy and nutritious foods.”

ACP notes that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ought to create, evaluate and support novel models and waivers that incorporate benefits and initiatives that address social drivers of health, including food insecurity.

A multi-faceted approach
According to ACP, the US has to improve its response to food insecurity and provide doctors and other medical professionals the authority to better address socioeconomic factors affecting health outside of clinic walls.

Physicians and other medical professionals should undertake activities to better understand and mitigate food insecurity experienced by their patients.

This should involve doing food insecurity screenings on patients, incorporating lessons on food insecurity into medical education, and putting in place systems for connecting patients with food insecurity with the community and governmental resources.

Seniors who lack access to food are more likely to have lower nutrient intakes, worse reported health and greater rates of depression.“Physicians and other clinicians should learn about the prevalence of food insecurity and its health consequences. ACP recommends incorporating screening tools for food, nutrition and other social drivers of health as an integral part of medical practice and referring when appropriate to government and community resources,” says Mire.

“Physicians cannot do this alone. Governments and other stakeholders must support these efforts.”

Feeling the implications
Food insecurity has been linked to reduced nutrient intake, increased incidence of mental health issues, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other chronic diseases, as well as worse outcomes for sleep, health examinations, and reported health in non-senior individuals.

The paper’s authors reviewed available studies, reports and surveys on food and nutrition insecurity from PubMed and Google Scholar between 1990 and 2022 and relevant news articles, policy documents, websites and other sources.

Seniors who lack access to food are more likely to have lower nutrient intakes, worse reported health, greater rates of depression, and more limits in daily activities.

These health impacts can be observed in the increased health care utilization rates and costs experienced by food insecure individuals.

ACP recommends that research should focus on better understanding the prevalence, severity, and cost of food and nutrition insecurity as well as how to most effectively and efficiently address it.

The federal government should support nutrition research and coordinate it with other federal departments and agencies.

By Nicole Kerr