Food as Medicine Flashcards
What is food insecurity?
limited or uncertain access to adequate food
What is nutrition insecurity?
lack of consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods that promote well-being, prevent disease, and treat disease.
Describe the food security pyrimid.
High Food Security: Consistent access to adequate food
Marginal Food Security: Difficulties at times, but no reduction in quality, varitey, or quantity of food
Low Food Security: Reduced quality, variety, and desirability of food; may present as food anxiety, diet monotony
Very Low Food Security: Disrupted eating patterns, reduced food intake, calorie-dense/cost-effective foods
What are the rates of food insecurity in the United States?
- 13.5% overall (1 in 7)
- 18.5% children (1 in 5)
What are the rates of food insecurity in Indiana?
- 13.9% overall (1 in 7)
- 18.2% children (1 in 5)
What are the rates of food insecurity in Indianapolis?
- 14.0% overall (1 in 7)
- 23.9% children (1 in 4)
What are the risk factors for food insecurity?
- Households with children
- single parent/caregiver households
- People of Color or LGBTQIA+ individuals
- Households in rural and urban communities
- Households with a member who has a chronic illness and or diasability
What are the root causes of food insecurity?
- limited access
- unemployment
- expenses>income
- government policies
- health conditions
- inequities
- discrimination
50% of health ourcomes are driven by social determinants.
How is the cycle of food insecurity related to chronic disease?
Food insecurity –> Dietary Quality and Eating Behaviours decrease bandwidth –> chronic disease –> health care expenditures increase while employability decreases –> the spending tradeoffs increase as househould income decrease
What is the impact of food insecurity on pediatric health?
Newborns= birth complications, defects, and low weight
Infants and young children= developmental issues, poor growth, inappropriate feeding practices
Adolescents= depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation
What is the impact of food insecurity on adult health?
- Increased risk of chronic conditions- HTN, DM, CHD, hepatitis, stroke, cancer, arthritis, COPD, CKD, obesity
- Difficulty managing existing conditions
- Chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and poor mental health
58% of households have a member with high BP
33% of households have a member with diabetes.
Explain sensitive screening
- Screen universally so no patient feels singled out and to prevent care team from making assumptions
- Be discreet
- Reassure families
- Provide a list of available resources to all families
What is a food insecurity screening?
- FI exists in every community and area of practice
- Screening can: identify root causes of health problems, connect patients to appropriate resources, and reduce healthcare costs and utilization
- Insurance Requirements
In practice:
- Patient encounter
- Food Insecurity screening (2 questions)
- Refer to food resources
What are interventions in the situation of food insecurity?
- Medical interventions such as refering to RDN
- Offer connections to resources that can help improve the patient/family health- warm referrals preferred
- Document and track screenings/interventions in EHR
- Advocate for programs/poicies that address food insecruity and its root causes
