Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The hidden health complications of inflation

Advait Suvarnakar, Aashka Suvarnakar, and Fadi Masoud
Policy
December 6, 2022
Share
Tweet
Share

“Inflation hit 8.2 percent for the month of September.” The sound of the newscaster’s voice was grim.

Tuning into the nightly news, many Americans have become seasoned pseudo-economists. It has become common practice to crunch numbers to prepare next month’s budget as food, oil, and housing prices reach all-time highs. The ever-foreboding question of “Are we in a recession?” has become as frequent and a juxtaposition to the innocent pestering of children asking, “Are we there yet?” Sit tight. We’ll soon find out.

Nevertheless, Americans from many socioeconomic backgrounds are feeling the pinch. While volunteering at a local food pantry, we were able to talk to one patron, Cynthia, about the impact of the economy on her day-to-day life. Cynthia, a once proud soccer mom of three kids, was recently forced to take up a second job to make ends meet. This meant sacrificing healthy, home-cooked meals for an increased frequency of microwaved meals and fast food. Cynthia states she has never felt so vulnerable and defenseless against the economy – pushing her to unhealthy food alternatives for her family.

Cynthia is not alone. She is but an example of the millions of Americans faced with a double-edged sword: earn enough to buy food but not have the time to cook a nutritious meal. In addition, inflation has added yet another financial factor to eating out. Due to the rising costs faced by producers and consumers, producers have hiked their menu prices by nearly 8.5 percent when compared to September 2021. This has forced many consumers, like Cynthia, to seek cheaper dining experiences, which are ultimately more unhealthy.

While the economic effects of inflation are immediate and more tangible, its health effects are lingering in the dark, waiting for its curtain call. This is especially true as Americans are conservatively spending their money and spending a larger share of their income towards food, housing, and transportation – forgoing this year’s annual physical and skipping on medication refills. One of the most observable consequences of this will be the increasing prevalence of the gastrointestinal disease. Increased fast food consumption had a positive association with functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and abdominal pain. The culprits? A diet low in fiber and vitamins. A study also indicated an increased relationship between a poor gut microbiome and processed foods found in many fast-food restaurants. This reality, unfortunately, faced by Cynthia and her children begs the question: what can be done?

The United States saw the largest year-over-year increase, nearly 13 percent, in grocery prices since 1979. With certain groceries fluctuating on a weekly basis, some Americans on a fixed income scramble to find the “most bang for their buck.” A potential solution to this can start with the producer. A study found that nearly 33 percent of food produced is wasted due to many reasons, including impaired distribution. One way to improve food security is by increasing funding to the Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements. This would incentivize third-party farmers to deliver their produce to farmers’ markets while keeping market prices stable.

A healthy diet is the foundation of a wholesome lifestyle. While it is important to maintain a proper regimen, we must recognize that some people simply have exhausted their options. A government solution could ease the burden for many Americans, including Cynthia.

Advait Suvarnakar, Aashka Suvarnakar, and Fadi Masoud are medical students.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A rush to judgment on acetaminophen?

December 6, 2022 Kevin 0
…
Next

In light of Chris Hemsworth's APOE news: Don't panic

December 6, 2022 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A rush to judgment on acetaminophen?
Next Post >
In light of Chris Hemsworth's APOE news: Don't panic

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • How inflation fueled health care costs

    Ricardo Chujutalli, MD, MBA and Jessica Yoong
  • Why the Inflation Reduction Act is a win for health care

    Hassaan Asif and Venkatesan Ram Krishnamoorthi, MD
  • How inflation will affect our health system

    Robert Pearl, MD
  • Melting the iron triangle: Prioritizing health equity in dynamic, innovative health care landscapes

    Nina Cloven, MHA
  • A health economist acknowledges how financing experiments failed our health system

    James G. Kahn, MD, MPH
  • New proposals for universal health care in Oregon and Washington

    Roger Collier

More in Policy

  • How locum tenens work helps physicians and APPs reclaim control

    Brian Sutter
  • Why Medicaid cuts should alarm every doctor

    Ilan Shapiro, MD
  • Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ laws

    BJ Ferguson
  • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

    Carlin Lockwood
  • What Adam Smith would say about America’s for-profit health care

    M. Bennet Broner, PhD
  • The lab behind the lens: Equity begins with diagnosis

    Michael Misialek, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • 2 hours to decide my future: How the SOAP residency match traps future doctors

      Nicolette V. S. Sewall, MD, MPH | Education
    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • In a fractured world, Brian Wilson’s message still heals

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it

      Ashish Mandavia, MD | Physician
    • How doctors took back control from hospital executives

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why shared decision-making in medicine often fails

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
    • My journey from misdiagnosis to living fully with APBD

      Jeff Cooper | Conditions
    • Why we fear being forgotten more than death itself

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it

      Ashish Mandavia, MD | Physician
    • From survival to sovereignty: What 35 years in the ER taught me about identity, mortality, and redemption

      Kenneth Ro, MD | Physician
    • When doctors forget how to examine: the danger of lost clinical skills

      Mike Stillman, MD | Physician
    • When your dream job becomes a nightmare [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding healing in narrative medicine: When words replace silence

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Why coaching is not a substitute for psychotherapy

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • 2 hours to decide my future: How the SOAP residency match traps future doctors

      Nicolette V. S. Sewall, MD, MPH | Education
    • Why removing fluoride from water is a public health disaster

      Steven J. Katz, DDS | Conditions
    • When did we start treating our lives like trauma?

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • In a fractured world, Brian Wilson’s message still heals

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it

      Ashish Mandavia, MD | Physician
    • How doctors took back control from hospital executives

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Why shared decision-making in medicine often fails

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
    • My journey from misdiagnosis to living fully with APBD

      Jeff Cooper | Conditions
    • Why we fear being forgotten more than death itself

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why U.S. health care pricing is so confusing—and how to fix it

      Ashish Mandavia, MD | Physician
    • From survival to sovereignty: What 35 years in the ER taught me about identity, mortality, and redemption

      Kenneth Ro, MD | Physician
    • When doctors forget how to examine: the danger of lost clinical skills

      Mike Stillman, MD | Physician
    • When your dream job becomes a nightmare [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Finding healing in narrative medicine: When words replace silence

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Why coaching is not a substitute for psychotherapy

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The hidden health complications of inflation
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...