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Homeless & hungry: the evidence from Liverpool
S Stitt1, G Griffiths, D Grant
1Centre for Consumer Education & Research, Liverpool John Moores University.
Nutrition and Health
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Homeless families in Liverpool exhibit extremely poor nutrition, falling significantly below government dietary recommendations. This pilot study highlights severe nutritional deficiencies linked to homelessness and inadequate cooking facilities.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Dietetics
Background:
- Established link between low income and poor nutrition.
- 30% of British families with children spend insufficient funds on food to meet Dietary Recommended Values (DRVs).
- Limited research on nutritional impacts of homelessness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nutritional status of homeless families in Liverpool.
- To assess the dietary intake and nutrient composition of homeless individuals.
- To examine the implications of homelessness on adherence to nutritional guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving homeless families in Liverpool (defined as residing in Bed & Breakfast accommodation).
- Dietary diaries were maintained by families to record all food and drink consumption.
- Nutrient analysis of dietary intake was performed using the Microdiet computer program.
Main Results:
- All studied homeless families demonstrated dietaries falling substantially short of government nutritional guidelines.
- Extreme nutritional deficiencies were identified in the diets of all participants.
- Inadequate cooking facilities and reliance on welfare benefits were contributing factors.
Conclusions:
- Homelessness presents extreme nutritional challenges, leading to severe dietary inadequacies.
- The findings underscore the urgent need for nutritional support for homeless populations.
- Further large-scale studies are warranted to fully understand the scope of the problem.