Barriers to Nutrition Security in the US - Report - MDSpire

Barriers to Nutrition Security in the US

  • By

  • Caroline E. Owens

  • Ronit Ridberg

  • Julia Reedy Sharib

  • Hope C. Craig

  • Dariush Mozaffarian

  • June 30, 2026

  • 0 min

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Challenges to Achieving Nutritional Security in the United States

Background

Poor nutrition significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality, with substantial economic implications in the U.S. Food insecurity, which affects over 13.7% of individuals, is a critical issue that limits access to healthy foods. Understanding the barriers to nutrition security is essential for developing effective interventions and policies to improve dietary health across diverse populations.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data was provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • Food insecurity is linked to cardiovascular disease mortality and new diabetes cases.
  • The Nutrition Security Screener (NSS) identifies specific barriers to healthy eating among U.S. adults.
  • Barriers to healthy eating include financial strain, family preferences, and limited nutrition knowledge.
  • Food insecurity disproportionately affects different racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
  • Interventions targeting financial barriers have shown inconsistent effects on diet quality and health outcomes.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should consider the various barriers to nutrition security when addressing dietary health in patients.

Conclusion

Addressing nutritional security requires a comprehensive understanding of the barriers faced by individuals.

Related Resources & Content

  1. JAMA Network Open, 2024 -- Federal Policy and Social Support to Increase Nutrition Security
  2. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026 -- Food Is Medicine: Evidence, Gaps, and Key Directions for the Future
  3. Nature Medicine, 2026 -- Medically tailored meals receipt and healthcare utilization and costs in Massachusetts’ Medicaid demonstration
  4. Current Dietary Guidelines, ODPHP -- Current Dietary Guidelines
  5. ADA Clinical Guidelines -- Standards of Care in Diabetes
  6. conexiant — Protein-First Policy Hits US Tables
  7. Current Dietary Guidelines | odphp.health.gov
  8. Standards of Care in Diabetes | ADA Clinical Guidelines
  9. Produce Prescription Subsidy for Patients With Diabetes: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial | Trial Resources | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA Network

Original Source(s)

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