The health costs of hunger in Massachusetts
Hunger is a well-documented health issue. Now we know how its harmful impacts drain dollars from the Massachusetts economy. New research—the first of its kind for Massachusetts—shows hunger and food insecurity in our state increased health-related expenditures by an estimated $2.4 billion at least, in 2016 alone.
This eye-opening figure reflects the avoidable costs of doctor’s visits, hospital stays, emergency room treatment, prescription medications, home healthcare, and much more associated with food insecurity. It also includes lost work time, low productivity, premature death and special education expenditures—indirect costs that sap the economic health of our state.