Food insecurity amongst young adults in the U.S. can potentially lead to a greater risk for heart problems, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
Published in JAMA Cardiology, the study analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults report. Known as CARDIA, the study originated in the 1980s, when scientists tracked the information of a group of Black and white U.S. adults.
Through the study, Northwestern Medicine scientists examined the information of participants struggling with food insecurity in their early 30s to mid-40s. Their health was closely studied and compared to that of participants who were food secure.
In their results, the researchers found that, out of 3,616 study participants, those who were food insecure had an increased 41% chance of developing cardiovascular disease and other heart conditions when compared to the food-secure participants. Throughout the entire study, the food-insecure participants developed heart disease at a rate that was nearly double that of those who were food-secure; while those with enough food access recorded a 6% rate of heart disease, those who did not have enough food recorded a rate of 11%.
“We’ve known that food insecurity and heart disease often go hand in hand, but this study shows, for the first time, that food insecurity comes first,” said instructor of general internal medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Jenny Jia, per an official release. “That makes it a clear target for prevention — if we address food insecurity early, we may be able to reduce the burden of heart disease later.”
Per the study, a majority of those who were food insecure were Black young adults.
According to the nonprofit Feeding America, Black communities are among the demographics who are burdened with higher rates of inadequate food access. In 2023, according to the USDA, more than 9 million Black Americans, or 1 in 4 Black Americans, did not have access to the amount of food needed to have a healthy life.
Approximately 27% of Black children were also living in food-insecure households, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the rate. Amongst the factors that are responsible for these higher statistics are systematic racism, disparities in employment and wages as well as food deserts – areas that lack a proper place for healthy, fresh food.
The latest link between food insecurity and heart problems comes as Black Americans continue to record higher rates of cardiovascular issues. Per the American Heart Association, nearly 60% of Black American adults have heart disease. Once diagnosed, Black men have an increased 54% chance of passing away.
To address this increased chance, the researchers from Northwestern Medicine suggest prioritizing screening for food insecurity, addressing the latest factor by connecting patients to community resources.
“The more we screen for it, the better,” said Dr. Jia. “We need better strategies to help people once they screen positive. Do we connect them to social workers who can refer them to existing community programs? Should healthcare systems develop their own interventions? These are the next big questions.”
