Starving in the United States

Over 35.5 million people in the United States have limited or uncertain access to enough nutritious food for all household members to lead active and healthy life. 12.6 million of these people are children. Inadequate nutrition in children lead to significant implications for physical growth and cognitive development. The thrifty minimally nutritious food plan, which is defined by the USDA, costs at least $752 per month for a 4 person family in Boston. The maximum that any family can receive in food stamps for a given month is $542, which is 39% less than the cost of the plan. That said, most families do not even receive the maximum amount in food stamps.

These are issues that primary care physicians must be aware about to adequately address their patients' health care needs. Providing basic nutrition for patients by informing about access to food banks and advocating for change in federal welfare policies are just as important as (if not more important than) ordering tests and prescribing drugs. Why is it that the federal government can find $700 billion to bail out the financial markets but not one extra dollar to provide nutrition to our society's families and children in poverty? The latter are the ones who are affected by unemployment and have their basic health and living needs put into question in this time of economic depression.

Check out this slide show on the NY Times on recent increases in food insecurity.

Sources:
Thayer J, Murphy C, Cook J, Ettinger de Cuba S, DaCosta R, Chilton M. The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet: Coming Up Short- High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits. Report by C-SNAP. Boston Medical Center. September 2008