Changes in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals using a telehealth and nutrition platform (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Food Insecurity is a complex public health problem affecting many individuals in the United States. Digital health interventions that promote behavior change and provide access to affordable and healthy food may help to alleviate food insecurity. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to characterize users of Foodsmart, a telehealth and nutrition platform, with food insecurity and to evaluate changes in diet and food insecurity. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data collected from 4,595 adults who used Foodsmart between February-October 2021. Participants self-reported their diet, demographics, biometrics, and food insecurity status. We examined baseline characteristics of participants by food insecurity status, associations between characteristics and baseline food insecurity, and changes in diet quality and food insecurity status. RESULTS We found that 16% of participants were food insecure at baseline. Among participants who were food insecure at baseline, 61% improved their nutrition and 29% responded that they were food secure at follow-up, with an increasing percentage achieving food security with longer enrollment time. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth and nutrition platforms may help users improve household food security.