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Young adults who face food insecurity have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease later in life.
The research, conducted by Northwestern Medicine, found that food insecurity in early adulthood is linked to a 41% higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease in midlife, even when factoring in income, education, and other background differences.
The study, led by Dr. Jenny Jia at Northwestern University, tracked over 3,600 participants for two decades.
Researchers analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which has followed Black and white adults in the U.S. since the mid-1980s.
The team focused on individuals who reported food insecurity in 2000–2001 when they were in their 30s and 40s and monitored their heart health over the next 20 years.
The study published in JAMA Cardiology showed a stark difference in outcomes. Eleven percent of food-insecure individuals developed heart disease, compared to just six percent of those who had enough food. The findings indicate that lack of access to nutritious meals plays a direct role in long-term health risks.
“We’ve known that food insecurity and heart disease often go hand in hand, but this study shows, for the first time, that food insecurity comes first,” Jia said.
With millions of Americans experiencing food insecurity each year, medical professionals say early detection is key.
Jia and her colleagues stress the need for doctors to screen patients for food insecurity in primary care settings, where trust between physicians and patients is strongest.
She also suggests expanding screenings beyond primary care, including in emergency rooms and cardiology clinics. Nurses, medical assistants, and even patient intake forms could help identify those in need.
“The more we screen for it, the better,” Jia said. “We need better strategies to help people once they screen positive. Do we connect them to social workers who can refer them to existing community programs? Should healthcare systems develop their own interventions? These are the next big questions.”
Healthcare providers and policymakers must now determine the most effective ways to support food-insecure patients. Jia says linking patients to social workers, food assistance programs, and local community resources could be a crucial step.
Some hospitals and clinics are already exploring food prescription programs, which allow doctors to provide fresh produce to patients at risk of diet-related illnesses.
Jia and her team plan to continue tracking the study participants to assess how food insecurity affects health as they age. Researchers expect to revisit the data when participants reach their 80s to understand the long-term effects.
Jia explained that this isn’t just an issue for the elderly, the doctors are already seeing heart disease in middle-aged adults who experienced food insecurity decades earlier. She said, “It’s surprising to see heart disease in this group, which doesn’t include those 65 or older.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one in eight households nationwide struggles with food insecurity each year. The issue is more common among low-income families and communities of color, with Black Americans disproportionately affected.
Public health experts warn that rising food costs and economic instability may worsen the problem. Many advocates call for expanded food assistance programs and better integration of food security measures into health care.
