Lecture Notes: The Relationship Between Food Equity and Health

Presenter: Sen Sagum Verulam, General Pediatrician and Health Services Researcher

• Affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Topic: Relationship between food equity and health, role of physicians and healthcare systems

Introduction

• Personal journey into food equity
  • Experience with a patient named Jaden highlighted issues of food insecurity
  • Realization that nourishing children is complex and not always clear
  • Motivation to ensure access to nutritious, fresh, healthy foods for everyone

Key Concepts

1. Food Security and Insecurity

   • Food Security: Defined by consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food
   • Food Insecurity: Lack of consistent access to adequate food, affecting 17.5% of US households with children
   • Nutrition Security: Emphasizes high-quality food access, incorporating equity and quality

2. Food Equity and Food Justice

   • Food Equity: Access to nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate food
   • Food Justice: Addresses broader food system issues, including the well-being of food workers, structural inequities, and racism

3. Health Disparities

   • Significant disparities in diet-related chronic disease prevalence linked to food security status
   • Higher prevalence of conditions like obesity and diabetes among racial and ethnic minority populations

Relationship Between Food and Health

• Lifestyle and diet-related chronic diseases are linked to food security
• Socio-ecological model of health demonstrates how individual, family, and community factors influence health behaviors

Policy and Federal Programs

• US Farm Bill: Funds federal nutrition programs (e.g., SNAP, WIC, GusNIP)
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): Provides food assistance for low-income families
• WIC: Supports pregnant women, infants, and young children with nutrition
• GusNIP: Supports nutrition incentives at the point of purchase

Physician's Role and Interventions

• Screening for food insecurity at well visits
• Motivational interviewing and preventive care
• Community-engaged programs like Home Plate and Food Buck RX in Philadelphia
  • Home Plate: Increases food literacy and preparation skills
  • Food Buck RX: Provides produce prescriptions to enhance fresh produce access

Community and Partnerships

• Importance of partnerships across sectors to solve food equity issues
• Successful collaboration examples:
  • Home Plate: Program encouraging home cooking and community building
  • Food Buck RX: Vouchers for fresh produce in collaboration with the Food Trust
  • Research indicates positive impacts on nutrition security

Conclusion

• Food equity and justice are essential for achieving health equity
• Partnership between healthcare and community organizations is crucial
• Encouragement for future physicians and community members to collaborate for a more just society

Acknowledgements

• Gratitude to community partners, mentors, students, and collaborators
• Open invitation for support and collaboration

This lecture highlights the systemic nature of food and health disparities and the collaborative efforts needed to address these issues effectively.