Mass. food insecurity surging; Doctor warns of growing health impacts
ON APRIL 30TH, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER HEARING OF THAT PROTECTIVE ORDER. IT IS RIGHT NOW 445 IN THE AFTERNOON. WE HAVE MORE MASSACHUSETTS FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. THAT IS ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY THAT’S DONE BY THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK. AS YOU CAN SEE, DOCTOR TODD HEALTH IS HERE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT I’M GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT. IT’S A BIG ISSUE, PERIOD. JUST HOW BIG AN ISSUE IS IT, IN YOUR OPINION? IT’S A VERY BIG DEAL IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT 40% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE FOOD INSECURITY. THAT’S OVER A MILLION HOUSEHOLDS. IT’S NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED. HISPANICS, NUMBER ONE, LGBTQ PLUS HOUSEHOLDS. NUMBER TWO BLACKS. NUMBER THREE IS THERE. IS THERE A DEFINITION OF OF FOOD INSECURITY? WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ESTABLISHED YOU ARE FOOD INSECURE. YOU’RE FOOD SECURE. IS THERE A CLEAR LINE? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE’S NOT A CLEAR LINE, RIGHT? THE THE STUDY HAS DEFINITIONS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, AS YOU KNOW, FOOD INSECURITY LEADS TO CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS LIKE OBESITY, LIKE DIABETES, LIKE HEART DISEASE. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IF YOUR FOOD INSECURE, HOW ARE YOU OBESE? BECAUSE YOU’RE GETTING CHEAPER FOOD THAT’S HIGH IN CALORIES, MORE PROCESSED. RIGHT? EXACTLY. RIGHT. BUT NOT AS NUTRITIONAL. AND THEN THAT FEEDS EACH OTHER. SO. SO WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN YOUR OWN PATIENTS WHEN WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE NOT ONLY CONSISTENT ACCESS TO FOOD, BUT CONSISTENT ACCESS TO FOOD THAT’S GOOD FOR THEIR FOR THEIR SYSTEM, FOR THEIR HUMAN BODY, RIGHT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET’S TAKE CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS STUDY, ONE THIRD OF HOUSEHOLDS, CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE. WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE ALSO CHRONIC PROBLEMS LIKE, YEAH, LIKE ASTHMA, BUT THINK ABOUT IT. THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILD OR AN ADULT. YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM. WHAT DOES THAT LEAD TO? IT LEADS TO ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, STRESS. YOU DO POORLY IN SCHOOL. SO IT’S THIS, IT’S THIS VICIOUS CYCLE. DOMINO THEORY IN 2026. THAT’S JUST IT JUST SHOCKING TO ME. SO IT ISN’T JUST ABOUT HUNGER. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT IT? YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE DOMINO EFFECT THAT IT HAS. WELL, HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE BROADER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM? THE STUDY ALSO SHOWED THAT THERE’S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ER VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITY. SO THAT’S A HUGE RIGHT THAT THAT THAT REALLY STRESSES OUR SYSTEM. NOW, WHY MIGHT THAT BE? BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT MONEY TOWARDS FOOD, WHAT AREN’T YOU PUTTING THE MONEY TOWARDS? RIGHT, RIGHT. YOU’RE NOT YOU’RE NOT FILLING YOUR MEDICATIONS. YOU’RE SKIPPING YOUR DOCTOR VISITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU’RE GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER ISSUES THAT IF YOU COULD, IF YOU WEREN’T THINKING ABOUT FOOD, YOU’D BE ABLE TO TAKE THE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU NEED, GO TO THE, YOU KNOW, VISITS
Food insecurity is rising across Massachusetts, with new data from the Greater Boston Food Bank showing more than one-third of households — about 37% — struggled to access enough food in 2024, nearly double the rate in 2019. Health experts say the impact is increasingly visible in clinical settings.“It’s a very big deal,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin of South Shore Health.The report found food insecurity affects roughly 2 million adults statewide and is disproportionately higher among Hispanic, Black and LGBTQ+ households. It also highlights growing health concerns. According to the study, 67% of adults in food-insecure households report at least one chronic health condition, underscoring the link between limited access to food and long-term health outcomes. “Food insecurity leads to chronic health problems like obesity, like diabetes, like heart disease,” Ellerin said. While food insecurity affects households statewide, researchers found higher needs among families with children, with many facing challenges accessing enough nutritious food. Doctors say the consequences can extend beyond physical health.“What happens to that? … It leads to anxiety, depression, stress. You do poorly in school,” Ellerin said. The findings also show broader strain on the health care system. The report links food insecurity to increased medical needs, including higher health care utilization. Ellerin said that often stems from difficult financial tradeoffs.“When you have to put money towards food, what aren’t you putting the money towards? … You’re not filling your medications. You’re skipping your doctor visits,” he said. Researchers say addressing food insecurity could play a key role in improving health outcomes and reducing pressure on the health care system statewide.
Food insecurity is rising across Massachusetts, with new data from the Greater Boston Food Bank showing more than one-third of households — about 37% — struggled to access enough food in 2024, nearly double the rate in 2019.
Health experts say the impact is increasingly visible in clinical settings.
“It’s a very big deal,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin of South Shore Health.
The report found food insecurity affects roughly 2 million adults statewide and is disproportionately higher among Hispanic, Black and LGBTQ+ households.
It also highlights growing health concerns. According to the study, 67% of adults in food-insecure households report at least one chronic health condition, underscoring the link between limited access to food and long-term health outcomes.
“Food insecurity leads to chronic health problems like obesity, like diabetes, like heart disease,” Ellerin said.
While food insecurity affects households statewide, researchers found higher needs among families with children, with many facing challenges accessing enough nutritious food.
Doctors say the consequences can extend beyond physical health.
“What happens to that? … It leads to anxiety, depression, stress. You do poorly in school,” Ellerin said.
The findings also show broader strain on the health care system. The report links food insecurity to increased medical needs, including higher health care utilization.
Ellerin said that often stems from difficult financial tradeoffs.
“When you have to put money towards food, what aren’t you putting the money towards? … You’re not filling your medications. You’re skipping your doctor visits,” he said.
Researchers say addressing food insecurity could play a key role in improving health outcomes and reducing pressure on the health care system statewide.