TY - JOUR

T1 - Food poverty as a barrier for a healthy and climate-friendly nutrition in Austria

AU - Lampl, Christina

AU - Schmidt, Annika

AU - Aigner, Ernest

PY - 2024/10/28

Y1 - 2024/10/28

N2 - BackgroundThe food system plays a crucial role in promoting healthy and climate-friendly living. One fundamental aspect is accessibility. However, in Austria, there is a lack of systematic and regularly conducted studies on food system accessibility. To address this gap, a comprehensive study on food poverty has been conducted for the first time in Austria.MethodsWe used a mixed methods approach, combining expert workshops, a representative questionnaire survey (n = 2004) using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and focus groups (n = 20) with affected individuals.ResultsApproximately 12 percent of people living in Austria are affected by moderate and/or severe food poverty. These individuals struggle to afford sufficient quantities and quality of food due to financial constraints or limited access in general. Over four percent experience severe food poverty, leading to skipped meals or even days without food. People affected by food poverty would like to focus more on healthy shopping and quality of food (prioritizing fresh food over cheap high-processed food). The biggest hurdles relate to a lack of financial resources, too little time and a lack of affordable (healthy and climate-friendly) options.ConclusionsFood poverty is a phenomenon in Austria that has received little attention to date. Public discourse often attributes nutritional problems to information gaps or individual competence, neglecting the impact of structural conditions. Addressing food poverty requires holistic approaches that avoid stigmatization. Recognizing it as a social, health, climate, and agricultural policy concern necessitates robust monitoring and considering the social and environmental aspects of nutrition holistically.

AB - BackgroundThe food system plays a crucial role in promoting healthy and climate-friendly living. One fundamental aspect is accessibility. However, in Austria, there is a lack of systematic and regularly conducted studies on food system accessibility. To address this gap, a comprehensive study on food poverty has been conducted for the first time in Austria.MethodsWe used a mixed methods approach, combining expert workshops, a representative questionnaire survey (n = 2004) using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and focus groups (n = 20) with affected individuals.ResultsApproximately 12 percent of people living in Austria are affected by moderate and/or severe food poverty. These individuals struggle to afford sufficient quantities and quality of food due to financial constraints or limited access in general. Over four percent experience severe food poverty, leading to skipped meals or even days without food. People affected by food poverty would like to focus more on healthy shopping and quality of food (prioritizing fresh food over cheap high-processed food). The biggest hurdles relate to a lack of financial resources, too little time and a lack of affordable (healthy and climate-friendly) options.ConclusionsFood poverty is a phenomenon in Austria that has received little attention to date. Public discourse often attributes nutritional problems to information gaps or individual competence, neglecting the impact of structural conditions. Addressing food poverty requires holistic approaches that avoid stigmatization. Recognizing it as a social, health, climate, and agricultural policy concern necessitates robust monitoring and considering the social and environmental aspects of nutrition holistically.

KW - Health sciences

KW - austria

KW - climate

KW - food

KW - nutrition disorders

KW - science of nutrition

KW - poverty

KW - food insecurity

KW - discourse

KW - Psychology

UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=leuphana_woslite&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:001395979200046&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.815

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.815

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

VL - 34

SP - 317

EP - 317

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

SN - 1101-1262

ER -