Perspective: The Convergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Food Insecurity in the United States

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, food insecurity has doubled overall and tripled among households with children in the United States. Food insecurity and COVID-19 may exacerbate one another through bidirectional links, leading to a syndemic, or sequential disease clusters, which exacerbate one another. Experiencing food insecurity may be associated with macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies, which can weaken host defenses, thus increasing susceptibility to COVID-19. Food insecurity is associated with chronic medical conditions, which may afford a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. People experiencing food insecurity may have increased exposure to COVID-19 while procuring food. People with COVID-19 may be unable to work, generate income, and procure food while quarantined, which may exacerbate food insecurity. Clinicians should screen for food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide referrals to food-assistance programs when appropriate. Policymakers should expand benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to address increases in the depth and breadth of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food Insufficiency and Mental Health in the U.S. During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…57,58 Clinicians can provide referrals to or aid in enrollment in SNAP, WIC, National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, and community food distribution programs for patients who experience food insecurity. 59 Interventions for food insecurity and mental health may also be integrated in social service programs. For example, programs aimed to assist people who are food insecure, such as SNAP and WIC, could incorporate screening for mental health in their assessments.…”

Competing Health Risks Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic and Early Response: A Scoping Review

“…The immediate effect of COVID-19 mitigation strategies on nutrition has been an increase in the number of individuals facing food insecurity in low, middle, and high-income countries[125, 126]. Food insecurity appears to be related to disruption of food supply chains due to limited movements of people and goods between countries, which in turn caused a disruption of food markets, increased food waste, and inflation of food prices.…”

Changes in diet quality and food security among adults during the COVID-19–related early lockdown: results from NutriQuébec

“…The mitigation measures implemented in most countries, combined with the shutdown of most industries including restaurants, have forced people to home confinement for many months. There are suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may have both direct and indirect impacts on food security and nutrition ( 1 ), with outcomes being dependent on the baseline situation of communities, countries, and regions, as well as on their resilience to shocks ( 2 ). On the one hand, it is tempting to hypothesize that home confinement due to the COVID-19–related lockdown may have led to improvement in the quality of the diet based on evidence suggesting that the frequency of cooking and eating at home is associated with better overall diet quality ( 3–5 ).…”