Impact of Delivering Nutrition Interventions Through Online Grocery Services to Improve Nutrition Security Among the Low-Income Population

About this work

An unhealthy diet is a major contributor to the development and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our recent research estimated that a suboptimal diet accounts for up to 70% of the global incidence of T2D, due to excess intake of refined grains, insufficient whole grains, excess processed meat, and excess sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), among several other dietary factors. In the U.S., individuals from traditionally marginalized groups suffer disproportionally from poor diet and diabetes, including those with lower incomes, from certain racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, and with food insecurity.

SNAP, by far the largest U.S. nutrition program – providing a total of $100 billion/year for grocery food purchases for 33 million Americans in low-income households – is a critical program to reduce hunger and food insecurity. However, SNAP has been less successful at advancing nutrition security: the consistent access, availability, and affordability of healthy foods that promote well-being and prevent and, if needed, treat disease.

Online grocery shopping is the fastest growing segment in food retail, now 15% of US grocery sales and with rapid projected further growth. Online retail has tremendous potential to help address nutrition security and health equity, by reducing access, transportation, and time barriers while also leveraging the online format to nudge and incentivize healthier food choices. In April 2023, 3.7 million SNAP households shopped online, compared wit…