Editorials

Food Insecurity: How You Tin Assistance Your Patients

Am Fam Physician. 2018 Aug 1;98(three):143-145.

Food security is defined every bit access by all persons at all times to plenty nutrient for an active, healthy life. Limited availability of nutritionally adequate and safe nutrient or the inability to acquire these foods in socially adequate means is called food insecurity (FI).1

Prior to the Great Recession (2007 to 2009), the rate of FI was 11.one%; FI peaked at 14.ix% in 2011 before declining to 12.3% (almost 16 million American households) in 2016.two FI occurs most often in households with income near or below the federal poverty line or with a person living alone, in households containing children, or in households headed by a black or Hispanic person or single parent. In add-on, the prevalence of FI is higher amongst those living in principal cities of metropolitan areas (14.2%) or in rural areas (15.0%), with the highest prevalence occurring in the South (13.5%), followed by the Midwest (12.2%), the W (11.five%), and the Northeast (10.8%).2

The interaction between FI and chronic disease is cyclical. FI results in constrained dietary options and compensatory strategies, equally well equally competing demands for limited resource (e.g., postponement of needed health care). Changes in health status and stress from FI can issue in development and progression of chronic diseases, causing further competing demands that exacerbate FI.3 Obesity is associated with FI, especially in women and in persons with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or depression.410 Adults with very low nutrient security have a higher x-yr risk of cardiovascular events than those with traditional hazard factors.11 In children and adolescents, FI increases the risks of hypertension, asthma, obesity, poor nutrition, infection, anemia, untreated dental caries, poorly adult social-emotional skills (in young children), poor bookish achievement, and behavioral problems (in boyish males).12

Physicians can improve the health of patients who feel FI by following the SEARCH (screen, educate, conform, recognize, connect, help) mnemonic13  and by using the resources outlined in Tabular array ane.

Screen

Screen all patients for FI, especially in practices that serve at-risk populations, and document findings in the electronic health record. Although the preferred screening tool for FI is an 18-item survey, two questions have been identified that tin quickly assess for FI.14,15 An affirmative response ("oft true" or "sometimes truthful" vs. "never truthful") to either of the following statements can identify FI with 97% sensitivity and 83% specificity: (i) Within the past 12 months nosotros worried whether our food would run out earlier we got money to buy more than, and (2) Inside the past 12 months the food nosotros bought just didn't last, and we didn't have money to become more.fifteen Screening could be completed during the intake process so that physicians can focus their time on helping patients who screen positive.16

Educate

Educate patients at adventure of FI most appropriate coping strategies. Although some individuals with limited resources manage without major disruptions to food intake, many eat less or consume less healthy foods to go by. Physicians tin help patients avoid other unhealthy coping strategies such as prioritizing nutrient quantity over quality; stretching or diluting food and beverages; avoiding medical intendance or filling prescriptions; eating one large, highly satiating meal per twenty-four hour period; choosing a small variety of low-cost or fast foods; fasting or skipping meals; and overeating when nutrient is bachelor. Some individuals may get to the emergency department to obtain nutrient or may commit a picayune offense to get a jail meal.xiii

Brainwash patients with diabetes who are at increased take chances of hypoglycemia to coordinate hypoglycemic medications (due east.one thousand., sulfonylureas, prandial insulin) with meals rather than time of twenty-four hour period. Patients should avoid taking these medications if they are not going to swallow a repast, no matter the reason. Brainwash patients with hypertension or center disease most sodium restriction because sodium levels may exist higher in prepackaged donated food or low-cost fast nutrient.

Adjust

Arrange the patient'south medication if it should be taken with food. Prescribe medications that minimize the likelihood of hypoglycemia for patients with FI who have diabetes.xiii Hypoglycemia may occur more often toward the end of the month because of the lack of financial resources to buy food.17

A medico or registered dietitian nutritionist tin can help patients adapt repast plans and timing of meals to reduce negative interactions between the patient'southward diet and prescribed medications for chronic atmospheric condition.eighteen Prescribe medications that are effective and affordable and that promote optimal adherence.

Recognize

Recognize that FI is typically recurrent but is commonly not chronic. Patients should be screened at each visit to ensure appropriate evaluation and management of intermittent or recurrent FI.

Connect

Connect patients with assistance programs and encourage patients with FI to use nutrient banks. See eTable A for more information on available programs.

eTABLE A

Food Aid Programs

Program Website Description

Child and Adult Care Food Programme

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/cacfp-contacts

Provides help for nutritious meals and snacks for children who attend day intendance or later on-school care or who reside in homeless shelters and for adults who are chronically impaired or disabled and who attend an adult day care; normally administered by the state teaching agency

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

https://nifa.usda.gov/plan/expanded-food-and-diet-educational activity-plan-efnep

Helps families and youth with limited resources learn the knowledge, behavioral skills, and attitudes necessary to maintain nutritionally sound diets and to heighten personal development (e.g., pedagogy on basic diet, food training, and resources management)

Nutrient Distribution Programs: governmental, volunteer, and emergency assistance

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd

Supports the nutrition rubber net through commodity distribution and other nutritional assistance to low-income families, older adults, emergency feeding programs, and American Indian reservations; patients are referred to local food banks/pantries, faith-based groups, and other agencies/organizations where supplemental food is distributed (local food banks can be found at http://www.feedingamerica.org)

Meals on Wheels America Foundation

http://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org

Provides meal delivery to older adults; programs are organized past local groups, including communities, churches, charitable organizations, and citizens; the local Area Agency on Aging may be a helpful resources when locating a local program

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/default.htm http://world wide web.fns.usda.gov/sbp/school-breakfast-program-sbp

Provides low-cost or complimentary lunch and breakfast (consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans) to students enrolled in public schools, nonprofit private schools, and residential kid care centers; provides snacks served in after-school educational and enrichment programs; patients are referred to local schools to enroll (data well-nigh eligibility is bachelor at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines)

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Plan

http://world wide web.fns.usda.gov/wic/seniorFMNP/SFMNPmenu.htm

Provides low-income older adults with coupons that tin be exchanged for eligible fresh foods at farmers markets, roadside stands, and customs-supported agriculture programs (information on eligibility is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfmnp/sfmnp-income-guidelines)

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and Women, Infants, and Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Plan

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FMNP/FMNPfaqs.htm

Provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and counseling, and access to health services to low-income pregnant and postpartum women and to infants and children up to five years of age who are found to be at nutritional risk; the farmers marketplace plan provides coupons that can be exchanged for eligible fresh, nutritious foods (information on eligibility is bachelor at https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-how-apply)

Summer Food Service Plan

https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summertime-food-service-plan

Provides nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to children during long school breaks when they do not have admission to school lunch or breakfast; patients are referred to local summertime programs; schools or the local food banking company may also have data about bachelor programs (data on eligibility is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines)

Supplemental Nutrition Assist Plan (formerly Food Postage stamp Program)

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap

Enables low-income families to purchase eligible nutritious food at authorized stores and farmers markets using coupons and electronic benefits transfer cards


Aid

Assist other health intendance professionals recognize that poor health and FI oft exacerbate ane another. Addressing FI during medical pedagogy enables faculty and trainees to understand the role of FI in population health and to propose solutions.19  Physicians should advocate for food security resources in clinics, hospitals, and communities (Table 1).

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Address correspondence to Shivajirao Prakash Patil, Medico, MPH, at patils@ecu.edu. Reprints are not available from the authors.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations.

References

bear witness all references

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Definitions of nutrient security. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security/. Accessed August 16, 2017. ...

ii. Coleman-Jensen A, Rabbitt MP, Gregory CA, Singh A; U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Household food security in the U.s. in 2016. September 2017. https://world wide web.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=84972. Accessed April 25, 2018.

3. Seligman HK, Schillinger D. Hunger and socioeconomic disparities in chronic disease. Due north Engl J Med. 2010;363(i):vi–nine.

4. Dinour LM, Bergen D, Yeh MC. The food insecurity-obesity paradox: a review of the literature and the role food stamps may play. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007;107(11):1952–1961.

5. Seligman HK, Bindman AB, Vittinghoff Due east, Kanaya AM, Kushel MB. Food insecurity is associated with diabetes mellitus: results from the National Wellness Test and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22(seven):1018–1023.

6. Seligman HK, Laraia BA, Kushel MB. Nutrient insecurity is associated with chronic disease among depression-income NHANES participants [published correction appears in J Nutr. 2011;141(3):542]. J Nutr. 2010;140(2):304–310.

7. Irving SM, Njai RS, Siegel PZ. Food insecurity and self-reported hypertension amidst Hispanic, black, and white adults in 12 states, Behavioral Take a chance Cistron Surveillance Organisation, 2009. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014;11:e161.

viii. Tayie FA, Zizza CA. Food insecurity and dyslipidemia among adults in the United States. Prev Med. 2009;48(five):480–485.

ix. Shin JI, Bautista LE, Walsh MC, Malecki KC, Nieto FJ. Food insecurity and dyslipidemia in a representative population-based sample in the US. Prev Med. 2015;77:186–190.

10. Montgomery J, Lu J, Ratliff Due south, Mezuk B. Food insecurity and low among adults with diabetes: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Diabetes Educ. 2017;43(3):260–271.

xi. Ford ES. Food security and cardiovascular disease chance among adults in the U.s.a.: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Test Survey, 2003–2008. Prev Chronic Dis. 2013;10:E202.

12. Council on Community Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition, American Academy of Pediatrics. Promoting food security for all children. Pediatr. 2015;136(5):e1431–e1440.

13. Patil SP, Craven K, Kolasa KM. Food insecurity: it is more common than you lot think, recognizing it tin can ameliorate the intendance y'all requite. Nutr Today. 2017;52(v):248–257.

fourteen. Bickel G, Nord M, Cost C, Hamilton Westward, Cook J; U.S. Department of Agriculture. Guide to measuring household food security, revised 2000. http://alliancetoendhunger.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/USDA-guide-to-measuring-nutrient-security.pdf. Accessed June vi, 2018.

15. Hager ER, Quigg AM, Black MM, et al. Evolution and validity of a 2-item screen to identify families at risk for food insecurity. Pediatrics. 2010;126(1):e26–e32.

16. Palakshappa D, Vasan A, Khan S, Seifu 50, Feudtner C, Fiks AG. Clinicians' perceptions of screening for food insecurity in suburban pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 2017;140(ane):e20170319.

17. Basu South, Berkowitz SA, Seligman H. The monthly cycle of hypoglycemia: an observational claims-based written report of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and costs in a commercially insured population. Med Care. 2017;55(7):639–645.

18. Craven K, Messenger J, Kolasa KM. What dietitians need to know about medical nutrition therapy and pharmacotherapy for type ii diabetes. Nutr Today. 2010;45(6):240–249.

19. Smith S, Malinak D, Chang J, Schultz A, Brownell K. Addressing food insecurity in family medicine and medical didactics. Fam Med. 2017;49(x):765–771.

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