Many communities within New York City are affected by food insecurity. The lack of access to healthy foods leads to detrimental health illnesses. Such illnesses include diabetes, obesity , stress and depression. These diseases if not taken care of on time would lead to the continuum of more health adversities. Adults, children and the elderly are affected by these comorbidities. A cross-sectional study titled “Food Insecurity and Obesity in New York City Primary Care Clinics” by (Karnik A et al). The authors shed light on the detrimental effects food insecurity has towards New York residents. The study was called a “card study” in which a survey was given to answer two questions. The two questions were based on food insecurity screening and assistance programs. A total of 558 participants from the clinics took part in the study. Including both genders, male and female. Evidence show fifty-five percent of patients were receiving some form of food assistance (Karnik A et al). More than half of patients (51.7%) reported some degree of food insecurity (Karni A et al). Of the adult participants, 21.8% had normal weight, 29.1% were overweight, and 48.2% were obese (Karni A et al). This evidence shows the results on how the patients are being affected by the lack of accessibility to healthy foods and being the leading cause to these health problems.
Furthermore, having nutritional health programs should be beneficial or work in the beneficiary of the individual. Bad eating habits, being inactive, and having a lack of money puts New York residents at risk on developing illnesses. In “Food for Thought: Increasing Food Security in New York City” by Bianca Almedina, entails the following. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves 1.8 million New York City residents; however the program is not as effective, as it should be (Bianca Almedina). While it encourages recipients to eat healthy, it does not provide them with the sufficient food purchasing power to do so (Bianca Almedina). This has a staggering detrimental effect within the residents. Communities are left at a disadvantage causing them to comply to unhealthy choices. As a result, having a detrimental outcome on their overall health.
Amongst the adults and the elderly, the children population are highly affected by food insecurity. Research findings from “Child Food Insecurity and Mental Health” by McSilver Institute For Poverty Policy and Research, entails how childhood food insecurity possess considerable risks, including adverse effects on health, growth, academic, and developmental outcomes (McSilver Institute). Which leads to the possibility on mental health illnesses and behavioral problems. Having an impact on the child’s academic school performance. Despite children being affected by this, a study was conducted on how adolescents and adults are affected. The researchers found that the greater the severity of reported household food insecurity, the higher the odds of adolescents having a DSM-4 disorder (McSilver Institute).
