Is the White House’s strategy to make America a “healthier nation” adequate in the face of inflation?
President Biden stated during a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health—the first of its type in more than 50 years—that the White House hoped to abolish hunger by the end of the decade and lessen the burden of disease-related health conditions.
The statement comes in the wake of historically high costs that are making it difficult for Americans to acquire the wholesome foods they need to keep healthy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food prices were 11.4% higher in August than they were in August 2021.
Biden said at the conference that the national policy “acknowledges the essential role that nutrition plays in our health and our healthcare system and that…we have to offer families the skills to keep them healthy.”
About 13.5 million American households experienced food insecurity in 2021, which meant they either couldn’t get enough food or weren’t sure if they would be able to get the food they needed. In addition to the health concern of hunger, research has indicated that less food security is linked to a higher risk of developing various chronic diseases, such as cancer, asthma, and diabetes.
Here is what experts have to say about hunger and its links to health, as well as who may be at risk for bad health due to restricted access to nourishing foods, and if Biden’s plan is sufficient to address the issue in the face of skyrocketing prices.
The Role of Food in Long-Term Health
Our general health is at risk from hunger and food insecurity, but there are far more serious effects of eating poorly than just feeling hungry. When people are unable to purchase the food they need, they frequently choose less nutrient-dense options because they are more economical or because they are more satisfied overall.
According to Erica Kenney, ScD, MPH, assistant professor of public health nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “filling your cart up with nutritious foods usually does cost more than a cart full of highly processed foods,” she said in a statement to Health.
Fruits and vegetables are more expensive per calorie than other better foods, so you need to buy and eat more of them to feel satisfied, according to Kenney, who also noted that healthier foods are generally more expensive.
“You might choose things that are cheaper per calorie if your objective is actually to make sure that you’re keeping yourself and your kids from feeling hungry,” she advised. You would need to purchase a lot more fruits and vegetables to consume the same number of calories.
Because more nutrient-dense meals are frequently out of reach for many people, especially in light of rising food prices brought on by inflation, it is common for shoppers to substitute less nutrient-dense foods in an effort to stretch their budgets a little further. Poor nutrition, as a result, can result in health hazards including high blood pressure or obesity.
A person may suffer significant levels of stress, which can lead to other health problems if they are hungry or unsure of their ability to provide for their family or themselves.
According to Sean Cash, Ph.D., Bergstrom Foundation professor of global nutrition at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, psychologically, those stresses “might lead us to binge on certain things when we’re able to, or to stock up on things that are storable that might be more energy dense.” According to physiological data, our bodies may respond to these pressures and changes in ways that are detrimental to our long-term health.
Security of Nutrients, Not Just Food
Large health disparities frequently arise because it is significantly harder for those who face food insecurity to get healthful meals. Sagar Dugan, MD, Ph.D., MPH, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, suggested that the death rates of people with diabetes may be one example of this based on location.
In a study released in September by Dr. Dugani, it was discovered that between 1999 and 2018, the mortality rate for diabetes was significantly greater in rural than in urban areas. Furthermore, while the rate of diabetes-related deaths has decreased in urban regions over the past 20 years, it has stayed largely stable in rural areas.
Dr. Dugani added that although the study didn’t specifically examine the causes of this, nutrition and food insecurity probably play a significant influence.
According to Dr. Dugani, “there are many [rural] counties that have or are food deserts; they have poorer access to fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and reduced access to quality food.”
It may be more difficult for people to prevent obesity, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, when there is a lack of access to healthy meals, whether due to cost or physical distance.
The term “to talk about nutrition security, not only food security,” has drawn attention. To consider more than just calories,” stated Cash.
