Our Nation’s Critical Need to Arm Socially Disadvantaged Populations with Tools to Achieve Health and Wellness

It’s no secret that there is a direct correlation between nutrition and people’s health and lifespan. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recently reported that American’s poor dietary habits are having devastating effects on our nation’s health: about two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese and about half of American adults - approximately 117 million people - have preventable chronic diseases related to diet and physical inactivity. To help drive awareness around this growing health epidemic, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has named March National Nutrition Month, in an effort to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

While these efforts are worthwhile, it’s hard to ignore the fact that many Americans don’t have access to healthy food resources, or convenient options for regular physical activity. And the long-term effects of poor diets and limited exercise can have dire health implications, particularly for lower income and minority populations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service has determined that there is a direct link between obesity and poverty, and has found that in poverty-dense regions, people are unable to access affordable healthy food.

By lacking nutritious food, those living in low-income communities experience higher rates of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Lower-income families have limited food budgets and choices, and must often stretch supplies toward the end of the month, before another check or allocation of government assistance arrives. This leads to unhealthy behaviors. Coupled with the fact that in many neighborhoods, safe and convenient options for regular physical activity are also limited, and the odds for developing a chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes are unfortunately in their favor.

Solera supports interventions targeted toward socially disadvantaged populations to help them reduce their risk of diabetes and fully believes that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an important first step. Currently the CDC has recognized more than 750 digital, national or community-based DPP delivery organizations that have been proven to help individuals make the necessary lifestyle modifications to reduce their risk for developing chronic health conditions driven by excess weight, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These programs, which range from online food and nutrition curricula to on-site classes and even to faith-based walking groups, are teaching and supporting at-risk patients to reverse the onset of type 2 diabetes through weight loss, exercise and wellness habits.

Given the specific cultural beliefs and preferences of these unique demographics (and often language barriers as well), local trusted resources delivering a standardized evidence-based program that is tailored to them is critical to their success. This is why the power of patient choice is so important when it comes to selecting a DPP program provider. By connecting at-risk individuals with the DPP that best meets their needs and preferences, the greater the likelihood for program engagement, commitment, satisfaction and success is much higher.

At Solera, we strongly believe that offering access to evidence-based interventions, such as the DPP, for underserved communities will be a critical step towards overcoming our nation’s health epidemic. We also see a great opportunity to integrate social service referrals directly into these programs to address the greater social determinants that have a substantial impact on health such as housing, transportation, and food insecurity.  As health systems assume more and deeper risk-bearing relationships, the success of the health system and the communities they serve become inextricably linked. Organizations like Solera are experts in catalyzing this necessary partnership between payers, health systems and the communities they serve, and provide the choice and convenience that lead to improved engagement around critical public health initiatives.