EDITORIAL: Multi-prong approach needed to improve health
Oct. 3—The task is huge and was attempted before by the Nixon administration, but despite the magnitude of the endeavor, ending hunger and improving health should continue to be a top goal in the United States.
Last week President Joe Biden outlined his plan to end hunger by 2030. The reality of that happening isn't great — especially because cooperation from Congress is needed — yet it's important to still head toward that goal in as many ways as possible.
Taking steps to reduce hunger and also bolster health are key to improved health outcomes for many Americans and would actually pay off for the country economically in reduced medical costs.
Appeasing hunger is about more than people eating regularly. Food has to be nutritionally sound, something that is a challenge in a world of junk food, aggressive marketing, food deserts and higher prices for quality ingredients.
Obesity continues to be a major problem that needs more focus. In 19 states and two U.S. territories at least 35% of adult residents are obese, more than doubling the number of states with a high obesity prevalence since 2018, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adults with obesity are at increased risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and poorer mental health. Children with obesity also face chronic health problems.
Although we are overall a rich country, 10% of U.S. households in 2021 suffered food insecurity, meaning they were uncertain they could get enough food to feed themselves or their families because they lacked money or resources for food, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Food insecurity disproportionately impacts communities of color, people living in rural areas, people with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, military families and veterans, said the U.S. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel L. Levine in a video conference last week.
Food insecurity and diet-related diseases are not new problems and won't go away without help. Expanding programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility to more underserved populations, expanding Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries' access to nutrition and obesity counseling, and updating nutrition criteria for the "healthy" claim on food packages are just a few of the methods of combatting some of the nation's food-related issues.
The plan pitched by Biden is, of course, much more comprehensive and far-reaching, taking a multi-pronged approach to tackling the problem. Reestablishing a nutrition program killed by the Trump administration should be among the easy steps to take. Beyond that and other regulations the administration can tweak, it's going to take a lot of coordination by federal and local government, nonprofits, the medical community and private parties to get the country on track to better health. Continued research needs to be part of that formula.
Access to quality food and physical activity shouldn't be available to just those who can afford it at whatever cost. Everyone pays the price when basic needs of others are not met.
