By Sarah Downer, JD, Associate Director, Whole Person Care, and Clinical Instructor, Harvard Law School's Center for Health Law & Policy, and Jean Terranova, JD, Director, Food and Health Policy, Community Servings
Food insecurity, a critical social determinant of health, affects one of every 10 households in Massachusetts, and has a disproportionate impact on women. They are often the primary food provider in a household and allow others, especially children, to eat first. Lack of access to healthful food, along with the chronic stress that comes with food insecurity, can lead to nutrient deficiencies, complications during and after pregnancy, and depression. Food insecurity is also associated with higher rates of serious chronic illness, like diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and certain types of cancer. Women who have or are at risk for these conditions are particularly vulnerable to negative health effects from food insecurity.
In Boston, mothers whose families suffer from food insecurity are two-and-a-half times more likely to be in poor health and nearly three times more likely to endure symptoms of maternal depression than their counterparts in families that have adequate food. Although SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) play key roles in supporting access to healthful food, food insecurity persists and access to adequate nutrition remains a serious issue in the Commonwealth.
Food insecurity among women also has an outsized impact on children’s health and well-being. Nutrient deficiencies in women are associated with heightened risk of preterm birth and certain conditions in infants such as neural tube defects. And parental health is critical to establishing a nurturing home environment where children can thrive.
The MMS’s Efforts to Combat Food Insecurity
To address food insecurity among women, especially those most at risk, the Massachusetts Medical Society is working with leaders across the state to implement the Massachusetts Food is Medicine State Plan, a multi-step strategy to increase access to food and nutrition interventions. A nutrition intervention could be a medically tailored meal for someone undergoing cancer treatment, a bag of groceries designed to help a family cook diabetes-appropriate meals, or a prescription for produce. The goal of the plan is for every physician in Massachusetts, regardless of location or practice setting, to be able to connect patients in need to these critical services. As part of the plan’s implementation, the MMS is leading a Nutrition Education and Referral Task Force, which will give physicians more information about nutrition and the community-based resources available to support patients in regaining and maintaining optimal health. Ensuring equitable access to these resources is a vital part of supporting women’s health in Massachusetts.
