Lincoln University

Chronic Disease and Food Insecurity Disproportionately Affect Low Income and Minority American Populations. Risk Factors for Chronic Disease in Missouri Include Obesity, Poor Nutrition Choices and Low Levels of Physical Activity. in 2022, 35.2% of People Over 18 Were Considered Obese With a Bmi > 30. Thirty-seven Percent of Missouri Women Were Classified as Overweight or Obese. Overall, 44.7% of the Black Population Was Considered Obese. in 2018, 29.8% of Black Adults in Missouri Reported Fair to Poor Health Compared to 20.4% of All Adults. Fifty-one Percent of Missouri Adults Reported Less Than 150 Minutes a Week of Physical Activity (57% of Blacks). Twenty-three Percent of Adults Report 1 or Less Servings of Vegetables Per Day While 37.3% of Blacks Report 1 or Less Servings of Vegetables Per Day According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (brfss). in Missouri, 25% of Adults 20 Years or Older Are Inactive Compared to 20% Nationwide. Hunger Atlas 2019 Data, Poverty Is the Best Single Predictor of Food Insecurity, and Hunger. Food Insecurity and Hunger Strongly Correlate to Lower Educational Achievement, Job Performance, and Unemployment Rates. in Missouri, of the 1,031,030 Living Below Poverty Level, Only 527, 054 Seek Healthcare From Safety Net Providers. Nutrition and Wellness Cu Rricula in Schools, Has Not Been Updated Since 2006. Data From Feeding Missouri, the Coalition of Missouri Food Banks, Finds 14.5% of Missouri Households Are Food Insecure. This Is Consistent With Usda Estimates Which Identify 5.3 % of Missouri Households Experiencing Very Low Food Security With Hunger Which Translates to 400,000 Missourians Experiencing Hunger, Many of Whom Are Children. Snap Figures Indicate That 11.8% of Missourians Utilize This Benefit, Although 63.2% Are Income Eligible. Scott Baker, Director of Feeding Missouri Indicated Demand at Missouri Food Banks Has Increased by 30- 100% State-wide From November 2009 to April 2020. Usda Food Access Resource Atlas, Missouri Has 466 Low-income Areas With Grocery Stores One-half Mile to 10 Miles From Housing Areas. Changes in the Food Distribution System in the Aftermath of COVID-19 Will Disproportionately Affect Minority and Critically Underserved Americans. Lu Identifies the Critically Underserved, Including Children, Seniors, and Young Adults in Order to Deliver Education, Training, and Support. Luce Addresses the Diverse Needs of the Target Audiences With a Variety of Direct to Consumer Education and Training Programs That Include Health and Nutrition Programs to Address Obesity and Other Chronic Conditions, Physical Inactivity, Training and Practical Strategies for Increasing Access to Healthy Foods, and Resource Utilization to Integrate Good Nutrition and Cost-effective Meal Planning Into Daily Behaviors. Luce Extension Staff Support and Partner With Stakeholders to Develop Community Gardens, Food Distribution Programs, and Summer Programming While Integrating Nutrition Education and Food Safety Training to Improve Food Access. Since 2013, Missourians With Very Low Food Security Has Decreased From 6.7 to 5.3%, Despite the Continued High Number of Low Food Access Areas. Lu Has Relied on a Personalized Approach Working With Adults, Pregnant Women, Students and Families. Working Face-to-face to Build Skills Were Halted by the Pandemic. the Pandemic, With Its Shutdown Orders and Stay-at-home Advice, Altered the Traditional Efnep Model. the Pandemic Revealed a Critical Need for Digital Equity. It Forced Our Hand in Building Out a Virtual Infrastructure and Establishing a Digital Boot Camp for Our Program Participants to Get Them as Quickly and Safely as Possible the Skills and Equipment They Needed to Participate in Virtual Classes