Food Access and Healthy Living
In the 2022 CHNA, Wellstar identified food insecurity and hunger as a key social determinant of health that is impacting the health of communities served. Food insecurity is defined as a household’s inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life. Some of the most common, yet complex, effects of food insecurity include health complications, especially when families are forced to choose between spending money on food and medicine or medical care, and damage to a child’s ability to learn and grow. Populations at greatest risk of experiencing food insecurity include: ■ Children ■ Rural communities ■ African-American communities ■ Hispanic/Latinx communities ■ Senior adults Figure 14 shows that the percentage of the low-income population with low food access is higher than state averages in the communities served by Paulding, North Fulton, Cobb, Kennestone, Windy Hill, and Douglas Medical Centers. Figure 14 | Percentage of Low-income Population with Low Food Access
60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
n Wellstar Douglas Medical Center n Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, Kennestone Regional Medical Center, and Windy Hill n Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center n Wellstar Paulding Medical Center n Wellstar Spalding and Sylvan Grove Medical Centers n Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center n Georgia
Low-Income Population with Low Food Access (2019)
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, USDA – Food Access Research Atlas, 2019. Source geography: Tract; Feeding America. 2017.
Community Partnerships Working with a variety of community partners is essential to successfully address hunger in communities served:
Atlanta Community Food Bank
Feeding the Valley
Food Well Alliance
Goodr
Master Gardener Volunteers
Open Hand Atlanta
Second Helpings Atlanta
Wholesome Wave Georgia
26 | WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
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