Addressing food insecurity: what is the role of healthcare?

Rai, N. and Blane, D. N. (2023) Addressing food insecurity: what is the role of healthcare? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, (doi: 10.1017/S002966512300366X) (PMID:37746715) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Food insecurity – when individuals or households have difficulty accessing sufficient, safe, culturally appropriate and nutritious food due to lack of money or other resources – is a global public health concern. Levels of food insecurity have increased across the UK in recent years, due in part to a decade of austerity, widespread loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic and the more recent cost-of-living crisis, leading to rising use of food banks. The stress of living with uncertain access to food and going periods without food is damaging to physical and mental health. Food insecurity is linked to both obesity and malnutrition, as often the most readily available foods are processed, high in fats, sugars and salt, but low in essential nutrients for health. While recognising that many of the drivers of food insecurity, and health inequalities more broadly (i.e. the social determinants of health) lie outside the health service, it is increasingly acknowledged that the National Health Service – and primary care in particular – has a key role to play in mitigating health inequalities. This review considers the potential role of healthcare in mitigating food insecurity, with a focus on primary care settings. Recent initiatives in Scotland, such as community links workers and general practitioner practice-attached financial advice workers, have shown promise as part of a more community-oriented approach to primary care, which can mitigate the effects of food insecurity. However, a more ‘upstream’ response is required, including ‘cash first’ interventions as part of broader national strategies to end the need for food banks.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Primary health care, food insecurity, nutrition.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Blane, Dr David and Rai, Ms Navneet
• Authors: Rai, N., and Blane, D. N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0029-6651
• ISSN (Online): 1475-2719
• Published Online: 25 September 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 Cambridge University Press
• First Published: First published in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher