Observing Socioeconomic Effects on Nutrition (2022)

Growing up in a community facing challenges like unhealthy food options, my grandfather's struggle with diabetes resonated deeply. Witnessing his decline, from amputations to heart attacks, culminating in his early death at 69, ignited a passion in me to fight preventable nutrition-related deaths. This experience, coupled with the disparities we saw in our own community, pushed my partner and I to delve into the issue of socioeconomic disparities and their impact on nutritional health.

Our analysis revealed a clear link between socioeconomic status and nutritional disparities. When examining the average glycemic index (GI) of purchased items per cart, a consistent pattern emerged across both trials.

• In trial one, carts from the low socioeconomic group accounted for 58.8% of all carts with a high average GI, while the high socioeconomic group only contributed 5.9%. This disparity was even more pronounced in trial two, with the low socioeconomic group responsible for 50% of high GI carts compared to 8.3% for the high socioeconomic group. This suggests a nearly tenfold and sixfold higher prevalence of high GI food choices in the low socioeconomic group for trials one and two, respectively.

• Conversely, the trend flips for low glycemic index (LGI) foods. In trial one, the high socioeconomic group contributed 50% of all LGI carts, while the low socioeconomic group contributed only 27.3%. This further underscores the disparity in dietary choices based on socioeconomic status.

  
  

Our research revealed a stark reality: people with lower socioeconomic status faced limited access to healthy foods, making them disproportionately vulnerable to diet-related illnesses like diabetes. This food disparity hinders not only individual lives but also the general healthiness of whole communities.

Educating our community on on this issue presents a powerful opportunity for change. By equipping the people around us and agricultural business leaders with knowledge about diverse, healthy food options and strategies for equitable distribution, we can:

• Increase exposure to healthy foods for low-income communities.

• Expand the agricultural market by catering to a wider range of needs.

• Foster a healthier population, benefitting individuals and the economy as a whole.

  
  

Our study, which documented the differences in food choices across socioeconomic groups, underscores the urgency of this approach. Bridging the nutritional gap requires targeted efforts through:

• Educational seminars for agricultural stakeholders, community leaders, and individuals.

• Raising awareness within our communities and beyond.

• Advocating for policies that promote equitable access to healthy food.

Our research would go on to be awarded 1st place at the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Agriscience Fair in the 2022 Division 2 Social Systems category. Our research paper can be viewed below.