The effect of chronic disease on food stress among the low-income polulations in Cyprus
Journal
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health
Date Issued
2022
DOI
10.1136/bmjnph-2022-summit2022.21
Abstract
Background Food stress can be defined as the product of the
cost of healthy food relative to the income of the household
and occurs when households spend 30% or more of their
income on food costs.
Objectives To examine the effect of chronic disease on food
stress among low-income population in Cyprus.
Methods Three Food Baskets were developed for two different
types of households (men and women). Healthy Food Baskets
(HFB) were constructed based on the National Guidelines for
Nutrition and Exercise. The Gluten Free Healthy Food Baskets
(GFHFB) were based on the HFB and all products containing
gluten were replaced with gluten free products. The Diabetic
Healthy Food Baskets (DHFB) were based on the HFB and
the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Affordability was defined as the cost of each basket as a percentage of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI). The
value of the GMI is set to be equal to C¼ 480 for a single
individual and increases with the size of the recipient unit
accordance to the Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development equivalence scales.
Results The monthly cost of the HFB for a man is 258.8
euros and for a woman is 187.1 euros. Also, a healthy man
on GMI would need to spend 53.9% of his income on the
HFB whereas the relative percentage for a healthy woman is
to equal to 39%. The monthly cost of the GFHFB is about
16% (47 euros) and about 17% (33.6 euros) more expensive
compared to the HFB for man and woman, respectively.
Adults with celiac disease receiving GMI would need to spend
59.5% and 41.9% of their income on the GFHFB (man and
woman, respectively). Moreover, the total monthly budget for
a diabetic man is 16% (37.6 euros less) lower compared to
the HFB and the relative percentage for the diabetic woman
is about 15% (25.7 euros less). Moreover, for low-income
adults with diabetes the proportion of income that would
need to be spent on the DHFB is 50.1% and 35% for man
and woman, respectively.
Conclusion The HFB, the GFHFB and the DHFB are characterized by low affordability causing food stress among the
low-income population in Cyprus. Notably, healthy and nonhealthy men seem to experience higher level of food stress
compared to women. Moreover, results of the current study
indicate that the occurrence of a chronic disease has a different impact on food stress
cost of healthy food relative to the income of the household
and occurs when households spend 30% or more of their
income on food costs.
Objectives To examine the effect of chronic disease on food
stress among low-income population in Cyprus.
Methods Three Food Baskets were developed for two different
types of households (men and women). Healthy Food Baskets
(HFB) were constructed based on the National Guidelines for
Nutrition and Exercise. The Gluten Free Healthy Food Baskets
(GFHFB) were based on the HFB and all products containing
gluten were replaced with gluten free products. The Diabetic
Healthy Food Baskets (DHFB) were based on the HFB and
the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Affordability was defined as the cost of each basket as a percentage of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI). The
value of the GMI is set to be equal to C¼ 480 for a single
individual and increases with the size of the recipient unit
accordance to the Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development equivalence scales.
Results The monthly cost of the HFB for a man is 258.8
euros and for a woman is 187.1 euros. Also, a healthy man
on GMI would need to spend 53.9% of his income on the
HFB whereas the relative percentage for a healthy woman is
to equal to 39%. The monthly cost of the GFHFB is about
16% (47 euros) and about 17% (33.6 euros) more expensive
compared to the HFB for man and woman, respectively.
Adults with celiac disease receiving GMI would need to spend
59.5% and 41.9% of their income on the GFHFB (man and
woman, respectively). Moreover, the total monthly budget for
a diabetic man is 16% (37.6 euros less) lower compared to
the HFB and the relative percentage for the diabetic woman
is about 15% (25.7 euros less). Moreover, for low-income
adults with diabetes the proportion of income that would
need to be spent on the DHFB is 50.1% and 35% for man
and woman, respectively.
Conclusion The HFB, the GFHFB and the DHFB are characterized by low affordability causing food stress among the
low-income population in Cyprus. Notably, healthy and nonhealthy men seem to experience higher level of food stress
compared to women. Moreover, results of the current study
indicate that the occurrence of a chronic disease has a different impact on food stress