People Eat More Processed, Unhealthy Food During A Recession

The following report is from Study Finds:

With rising inflation, the United States is on the brink of another recession. While people may want to brace for high unemployment and businesses closing, a new study suggests another consequence may be a change to our diets. Researchers from Sacred Heart University found that people eat less protein and green vegetables and more sugar and fatty foods during a recession.

The change in diet affected more people in households where overall access to food is lower. Lower quality, ultra-processed foods are often much cheaper than healthier options for individuals.

Overall, we found that the Great Recession had a negative impact on dietary behaviors in both adults and children. This adds to a robust body of evidence that economic downturn impacts household income, employment status and subsequent household food security levels.

Explains Jacqueline Vernarelli, PhD, director of research education and associate professor of public health at Sacred Heart, in a media release.

While the study did not directly measure the COVID-19’s impact on diet, the researchers do suggest it is a relevant factor that affects today’s economy.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented increases in food insecurity, and a dramatic increased need for emergency food resources and other types of food assistance. By identifying key intake patterns during the previous recession, we can identify areas that may need intervention now and during the [pandemic] recovery years.

Says Dr. Vernarelli.

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The team collected data from over 60,000 adults and children living in the United States. They looked at people’s diet and household food security before, during, and after the Great Recession of 2007 to 2010.

Household food security was defined as every person in a household having enough food to live an active and healthy life. In contrast, food-insecure households have limited or uncertain access to enough healthy food. People with food insecurity have a higher chance for nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases.

Results showed that the nutritional quality of food diminishes when families opt to buy cheaper foods in lieu of healthier options. Food-insecure households may have enough food to keep everyone full, but the variety and quality of their meals may go down. During the Great Recession, children living in houses with low food security ate more solid fat and sugar. Children ate 200 more calories per day than they did both before and after the recession.

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Using historical data to understand and anticipate potential nutrient needs and areas of concern may better help public health nutritionists serve communities faced with food insecurity, as well as help inform decisions related to food assistance policy.

Comments Dr. Vernarelli

Study authors add the results could shape policies which open access to nutritious foods in programs such as SNAP, WIC, and the National School Lunch Program.

The research team presented their findings at Nutrition 2022 Live Online.

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Proverbs 10:15

The WinePress had noted throughout last year that the Covid lockdown – not the made-up virus – caused all age groups to pack on the pounds; due to not only stress and animosity over food security, but also because people were in constant proximity to food and people began to eat way more than they already did.

And already The WP has noted that consumers are increasingly buying more and more ‘off-brands’ because they are cheaper, but usually even more processed, even less nutrition, and contain higher ratios of toxicity. This trend will not stop and will vastly expand by years end, and especially going into next year.

However, we’ve been living in a gluttony pandemic for some time now: soon enough that will reverse and people’s waistlines will be forced to shrink because of the impending famine.

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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