Local Health Issue Report

Food Insecurity and Its Impact on Health among Low-Income Families in Buffalo Student Instructor Institution Course and Code Date Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc184304329 \h 3Keywords PAGEREF _Toc184304330 \h 3Food Insecurity and Its Impact on Health among Low-Income Families in Buffalo PAGEREF _Toc184304331 \h 41.0 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc184304332 \h 42.0 Root Causes of Food Insecurity PAGEREF _Toc184304333 \h 42.1 Social Factors PAGEREF _Toc184304334 \h 42.1.1 Historical Practices PAGEREF _Toc184304335 \h 42.1.2 Transportation Barriers PAGEREF _Toc184304336 \h 42.1.3 Educational Disparities PAGEREF _Toc184304337 \h 52.2 Economic Factors PAGEREF _Toc184304338 \h 52.2.1 High Poverty Rates PAGEREF _Toc184304339 \h 52.2.2 Insufficient SNAP Benefits PAGEREF _Toc184304340 \h 52.3 Political Factors PAGEREF _Toc184304341 \h 52.3.1 Inadequate Funding for Food Assistance Programs PAGEREF _Toc184304342 \h 52.3.2 Zoning Laws and Urban Development PAGEREF _Toc184304343 \h 62.3.3 Advocacy for Policy Reforms PAGEREF _Toc184304344 \h 63.0 Individual Health Behaviors and Risk Outcomes PAGEREF _Toc184304345 \h 63.1 Health Behaviors PAGEREF _Toc184304346 \h 63.1.1 Poor Dietary Choices PAGEREF _Toc184304347 \h 63.1.2 Mental Health Impacts PAGEREF _Toc184304348 \h 73.2 Disease Risk Outcomes PAGEREF _Toc184304349 \h 73.2.1 Chronic Conditions PAGEREF _Toc184304350 \h 73.2.2 Impact on Children’s Health PAGEREF _Toc184304351 \h 74.0 Vulnerable Populations PAGEREF _Toc184304352 \h 74.1 Racial and Ethnic Minorities PAGEREF _Toc184304353 \h 74.2 Children and Adolescents PAGEREF _Toc184304354 \h 84.3 Older Residents PAGEREF _Toc184304355 \h 85.0 Current and Recommended Efforts to Address Food Insecurity PAGEREF _Toc184304356 \h 85.1 Current Efforts PAGEREF _Toc184304357 \h 85.1.1 FeedMore Western New York PAGEREF _Toc184304358 \h 85.1.2 Buffalo Food Equity Network PAGEREF _Toc184304359 \h 95.1.3 Buffalo Public Schools PAGEREF _Toc184304360 \h 95.2 Recommended Efforts PAGEREF _Toc184304361 \h 95.2.1 Policy Reforms PAGEREF _Toc184304362 \h 95.2.2 Community Programs PAGEREF _Toc184304363 \h 105.2.3 Education and Advocacy PAGEREF _Toc184304364 \h 106.0 Advocacy Letter PAGEREF _Toc184304365 \h 107.0 Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc184304366 \h 11References PAGEREF _Toc184304367 \h 12 Abstract This report focuses on food insecurity, which has emerged as a prevalent public health concern that affects about 25% of Buffalonians, with the rates higher among low-income earners and people in East Buffalo. This work addresses the potential reasons why people suffer from a lack of food, including social, economic, and political components, and examines their effects on habit and illness. This paper defines the target constituency, which is vulnerable groups, including the racially and ethnically diverse children and elderly, and then assesses existing interventions intended to address food insecurity. Finally, it provides resolutions for assured solutions for long-term food insecurity policies, communities, and education. Keywords This report uses the keywords social factors, economic factors, political factors, vulnerable populations, food deserts, community programs, policy reforms, and sustainable solutions. Food Insecurity and Its Impact on Health among Low-Income Families in Buffalo 1.0 Introduction Hunger remains a critical public health issue in Buffalo, New York since a quarter of the population lives in food-insecure households, with low-income earners being the most affected. This is worsen in the East Buffalo region, which has been deemed a ‘food desert’ since systematic racist policies and activism have deprived the community of even fresh foods. This paper will thus be looking at the social, economic, and political factors that cause food insecurity and behaviors or diseases that are related to food insecurity. It also covers the protected population and measures that are being taken in the present society, as well as suggestions on the best strategy that can be used in the future to combat this issue. 2.0 Root Causes of Food Insecurity 2.1 Social Factors 2.1.1 Historical Practices A food desert is the main cause of food scarcity in Buffalo and other cities, which has been made worse by redlining. Redlining is a discriminatory practice that denies minorities crucial amenities like supermarkets that sell healthy foods. These policies deliberately isolated Black people within areas with poor job prospects and breathed life into modern-day food deserts (Community for Global Health Equity, n.d.). This structural inequality has led to systematic afforestation, limiting fresh market produce and deepening health injustice across East Buffalo. 2.1.2 Transportation Barriers Food insecurity is exacerbated by the limited availability of transport in the less connected neighborhoods to procurement sources. While the low-income families of East Buffalo cannot afford to travel longer distances for food items, which are many miles from the supermarket, they rely on corner store shops that sell unhealthy foods (University at Buffalo, 2023). This imbalance in transportation stresses the current condition of the designs of cities, and investment in their infrastructure has to be stepped up so that citizens can have more opportunities to buy fresh and affordable food products. 2.1.3 Educational Disparities Buffalo locals' knowledge and access to foods available, education, and health literacy play a big role in food security. Unfortunately, most schools in disadvantaged areas need to be better funded; thus, there are few programs for food choices. Therefore, people need to learn adequate strategies for preparing inexpensive meals with nutrients and sustaining their diets through commodities with high-calorie content and low nutrient value (CGHE, n.d.). Promoting knowledge for these communities is critical to changing diet-related behaviors and promoting better health in the future. 2.2 Economic Factors 2.2.1 High Poverty Rates The high poverty index, which is reaching 25.6% in Buffalo, shows how the community is very much affected by the food insecurity issue (UBFSPHCL, n.d.). A typical family living below the poverty line struggles to afford good quality and better nutrition, which puts the household up with poor quality and cheap foods. Low wages and high costs of basic needs put families under great pressure about what to pay first: food, living, or other necessities. Thus, people have restricted chances to maintain adequate nutrition, forming a vicious circle of diseases and hunger. 2.2.2 Insufficient SNAP Benefits While conventional strategies such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offer some pressure release to families on thin budgetary constraints, they generally provide little flexibility to meet monthly food insecurity. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (2024) presented that SNAP benefits make up only two-thirds of the monthly food costs for a Buffalo family. This shortfall puts pressure on families to spend their benefits, which means they buy cheaper and less healthy food, increases food insecurity, and worsens their nutrition status. This gap could be closed, and the availability of healthy foods could be improved if the benefits of SNAP were raised. 2.3 Political Factors 2.3.1 Inadequate Funding for Food Assistance Programs Political factors result in Food Insecurity in Buffalo, especially inadequate funds for food security programs. While there is some form of support from programs such as SNAP, many need adequate funding to cater to the upgrades demanded by low-income families (CBPP, 2024). Consequently, the food benefits go very little, and the children and the families residing in food desert...