Food insecurity in early adulthood raises the risk of heart disease, long-term study shows

20-Year Study Links Food Insecurity to Higher Risk of Heart Disease

A slice of bread. Credit: Peter O’Connor / CC BY-SA 2.0 Young adults who face food insecurity have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease later in life. The research, conducted by Northwestern Medicine, found that food insecurity in early adulthood is linked to a 41% higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease in midlife, even when factoring in income, education, and other background differences. Long-term study tracks fo…

Food insecurity in early adulthood raises the risk of heart disease, long-term study shows

People with food insecurity as young adults had a 41% higher risk of developing heart disease in middle age, a long-running study found.

Food insecurity now, heart disease later

Struggling to afford food today could mean heart problems tomorrow. Young adults experiencing food insecurity have a 41% greater risk of developing heart disease in midlife, even after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. Food insecurity — struggling to get enough nutritious food to stay healthy — affects one in eight households in the U.S. each year.