Op-Ed | With an older, poorer city, preserving access to healthy food is critical | amNewYork
Briefly

The cost-of-living crisis in New York is significantly affecting older residents, with nearly one in four seniors in the Bronx living below the poverty line. As this demographic grows, access to affordable healthy food is diminishing, leading to detrimental health outcomes, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Recent surveys indicate that over half of New Yorkers are compromising healthy eating due to increasing food costs. With March being National Nutrition Month, there is a pressing need for policymakers to enhance nutrition programs, particularly for vulnerable seniors faced with food deserts and limited choices.
Nearly 1 in 4 seniors in the Bronx live below the poverty rate, signifying an alarming trend in economic instability and food insecurity.
New Yorkers are growing older and poorer at a time when the safety net is being yanked out, leading to even more healthcare challenges.
Food deserts, where grocery stores are scarce, leave residents with little choice but to rely on corner stores, impacting nutrition negatively.
Over half of New Yorkers admitted that higher food costs have led to a deterioration in their physical health, reflecting a serious public health concern.
Read at www.amny.com
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