School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton, UK.
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex, Southampton, UK; School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Lancet. 2023 Nov;402 Suppl 1:S90. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02131-1.
Food membership clubs that charge a small fee for a set number of items are in place in Wessex to address food insecurity (inadequate reliable access to sufficient affordable, nutritious food). These clubs incorporate longer-term solutions such as budgeting support, benefit maximisation, and cooking skills. The Wessex DIET project was established to measure acceptability and impact of these clubs. Given the paucity of evidence on the prevalence of food insecurity in those accessing such clubs, we aimed to quantify food insecurity and assess diet quality and wellbeing at recruitment.
In this mixed-methods study, we recruited individuals accessing food clubs in Wessex from March 31 to July 31, 2022. Participants provided informed consent and completed a survey (paper or online) at recruitment that collected data on diet and health. We used the modified six-item US Department of Agriculture (USDA) food security survey module. Follow-up surveys were administered after use of clubs (planned for 3, 6, and 12 months). Participants were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. We used data from the baseline survey to quantify food insecurity and assess diet quality and wellbeing at point of first access to food clubs.
Of 97 participants recruited, five (5%) were aged 18-24 years, 15 (15%) 25-34 years, 48 (49%) 35-54 years, 13 (13%) 55-64 years, and nine (9%) 65 years and older (seven [7%] did not report their age). 69 (71%) participants were female and 23 (24%) were male (five [5%] did not respond to this question), 79 (81%) were White, and 65 (67%) reported having at least one dependent child. 55 (57%) reported skipping or cutting size of meals because there was not enough money for food. Food security status was calculated in 74 participants who answered all six questions of the USDA module, with 30 (41%) reporting low food security and 32 (43%) reporting very low food security. 31 (32%) of 97 participants reported rarely or never eating fruit, with 23 (24%) eating fruit at least once a day. The most common reported frequency of vegetable consumption was 2-3 times a week (26, 27%) and 4-6 times a week (23, 24%). 12 participants agreed to an interview. The clubs were well received, with participants noticing an improvement in their diet and finances.
This study highlights the high prevalence of food insecurity in those accessing food clubs in Wessex, which is expected in a population using food aid, and positive reflections from participants regarding their diet quality after using this service. Findings might not be generalisable nationally. Follow-up will assess impact of the clubs on food insecurity, diet quality and wellbeing, contributing to the evidence base of the effectiveness of food clubs to address these outcomes.
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Wessex.
在英国西南部，为了解决粮食不安全问题（无法可靠获得充足、负担得起的营养食品），设立了收取一定数量商品固定费用的食品会员俱乐部。这些俱乐部纳入了长期解决方案，如预算支持、福利最大化和烹饪技能培训。Wessex DIET 项目旨在衡量这些俱乐部的可接受性和影响。鉴于目前有关参加此类俱乐部的人群粮食不安全普遍程度的证据有限，我们旨在量化粮食不安全状况，并在招募时评估饮食质量和幸福感。
在这项混合方法研究中，我们于 2022 年 3 月 31 日至 7 月 31 日招募了英国西南部食品俱乐部的参与者。参与者提供了知情同意，并在招募时完成了一份调查（纸质或在线），该调查收集了有关饮食和健康的数据。我们使用了经过修正的美国农业部（USDA）六项目粮食安全调查模块。计划在使用俱乐部后（计划在 3、6 和 12 个月进行）进行后续调查。参与者被邀请参加半结构化访谈。我们使用基线调查的数据来量化粮食不安全状况，并在首次访问食品俱乐部时评估饮食质量和幸福感。
在招募的 97 名参与者中，有 5 名（5%）年龄在 18-24 岁之间，15 名（15%）年龄在 25-34 岁之间，48 名（49%）年龄在 35-54 岁之间，13 名（13%）年龄在 55-64 岁之间，9 名（9%）年龄在 65 岁及以上（有 7%没有报告他们的年龄）。69 名（71%）参与者为女性，23 名（24%）为男性（5%没有回答这个问题），79 名（81%）为白人，65 名（67%）报告有至少一个受抚养子女。55 名（57%）报告因资金不足而跳过或减少用餐量。在回答了 USDA 模块的所有六个问题的 74 名参与者中计算了粮食安全状况，其中 30 名（41%）报告粮食不安全程度较低，32 名（43%）报告粮食不安全程度非常低。97 名参与者中有 31 名（32%）报告很少或从不食用水果，有 23 名（24%）每天至少食用一次水果。报告蔬菜消费最常见的频率是 2-3 次/周（26 名，27%）和 4-6 次/周（23 名，24%）。有 12 名参与者同意接受采访。俱乐部受到了好评，参与者注意到他们的饮食和财务状况有所改善。
这项研究强调了在英国西南部使用粮食援助的人群中粮食不安全的高发生率，这是可以预期的，而且参与者在使用该服务后对其饮食质量的积极反馈。研究结果可能不具有全国普遍性。后续将评估俱乐部对粮食不安全、饮食质量和幸福感的影响，为俱乐部在解决这些问题方面的有效性的证据基础做出贡献。
英国国家卫生与保健优化研究所（NIHR）应用研究合作 Wessex。
