Strategies to mitigate food insecurity in patients undergoing surgery

Food insecurity (FI) is a major public health challenge. In 2022, 44.2 million people, or over 12% of US households, lived with FI. Patients undergoing surgery may be particularly likely to experience FI given the increased likelihood of disability, medical debt, and mental health conditions that affect the ability to obtain, use, and afford proper nutrition. FI may worsen surgical outcomes. Poor nutrition after surgery prolongs hospitalization, reduces responsiveness to treatment, and increases complications and high-cost health care utilization. Despite this, few surgical programs screen or treat surgical patients for FI.