People in Suffolk facing “second health emergency” after Covid-19 due to cost of living
Some in Suffolk are being forced to sacrifice their health for cheaper food items due to the cost of living crisis
Last updated 27th Mar 2023
Some in Suffolk are being forced to sacrifice their health for cheaper food items due to the cost of living crisis.
It comes as local health chiefs warn the increasing cost of essential food and energy has created a “second health emergency” after Covid.
The rising cost of living is having significant health consequences, particularly in communities with existing higher levels of deprivation, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said.
However, increasing numbers of people who were previously “just about managing” now need support too, according to the organisations’ annual public health report.
It raises concerns that current health inequalities could be widened despite the “best efforts” of councils and their directors of public health, who had provided support such as dedicated warm hubs and access to affordable food.
The report said: “The mood of this year’s annual report is significantly different. Public health teams remain positive because this is fundamental to their work, but this is often based in hope rather than optimism.
“Cost of living pressures are the second major health-related emergency in three years.
“Cost of living pressures has the greatest impact on people who are least equipped to deal with financial challenges but also extends to a far larger population who would normally be able to manage without support.”
What does a nutritionist recommend?
Rose Paul is a nutritionist in Suffolk.
She's urging people to do what they can to look after their health: "A poor diet can impact our mood, our energy and sleep.
"That in turn can then impact how you're able to work, look after you family, things like that."
She says some tinned foods aren't great for us: "It's really important to be mindful of our intake of ultra processed foods and those foods with really long shelf lives, which appear cheaper, but actually won't fill us up.
"It's better to look for foods that are higher in fibre - they help us feel fuller for longer."
To those buying on a budget, she does recommend canned fish, wholemeal grains, frozen fruit and frozen vegetables.
Rose told us not eating the right foods doesn't just impact our health: "It's also important for the bigger picture.
"Our health system is under massive strain, so the healthier we can keep ourselves, the better outcome it will have for society and our NHS ."