Addressing Food and Nutrition Security Through Community Initiatives: Assessment of Healthier Food Incentive Programs...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Policy
• Community Health

Background:

• Healthy food incentive programs (HFIP) can enhance food security and supplement existing nutrition assistance.
• The prevalence of HFIP, especially at the municipal level, is not well-documented.
• Understanding HFIP distribution is crucial for improving dietary quality and reducing chronic disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of HFIP across a national sample of U.S. municipalities.
• To examine the association between municipal characteristics and the availability of HFIP.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the CDC's 2021 National Survey of Community-Based Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy and Active Living (n=1982).
• Employed weighted bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
• Assessed the relationship between municipal characteristics and HFIP implementation.

Main Results:

• Only 7.8% of municipalities reported offering HFIP in 2021.
• Municipalities with a food policy council had significantly higher odds of offering HFIP (aOR 2.8).
• Larger communities (≥50,000 population) and those with higher poverty rates were more likely to implement HFIP.

Conclusions:

• HFIP are infrequently implemented at the municipal level.
• Engaging institutions and individuals through food access coalitions may facilitate HFIP adoption.
• Strategies to promote HFIP can improve diet quality and mitigate chronic disease risks.