Pioneering Nutrition Research
We conduct pioneering research, and provide insights and consultancy to organisations, in the area of nutrition and diet of people experiencing homelessness, including in partnership with University College London and Pathway. These essential projects provide insights into the dietary needs of many of our service users, informing improvements to our meal services and healthy eating programmes, and help develop understanding and support in the wider sector.
- FEAST has supported the Pathway work on diabetes in inclusion health settings, for groups people who are socially excluded, who typically experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health
- FEAST and Pathway are partnering to set up a nutrition subcommittee focusing on nutrition in inclusion health, of which terms are to follow
- FEAST and UCL are partnering to publish a series of papers based on the data we’ve collected
- FEAST and UCL are partnering to deliver nutrition intervention with their Nutrition and Dietetics students for people with mental illness accessing food banks
- FEAST has links with the British Nutrition Foundation, Food Foundation, British Dietetic Association and The Caroline Walker Trust which we hope will lead to more consolidated partnerships and collaboration to do more nutrition research
FEAST With Us and UCL research project:
What is the nutrition status of homeless populations resident in temporary accommodation in London?
Funded by the British Dietetic Association, this novel research explores the diet and nutrition of people experiencing homelessness and is being conducted in partnership between FEAST and University College London. It is known that people experiencing homelessness experience worse dietary health outcomes than the general population, and there is a paucity in the literature investigating the related factors.
The research aims to identify the prevalence of malnutrition, obesity, food insecurity and mental ill health amongst people who are homeless, as well as examine the nutritional excesses and deficits in diets of homeless people compared with the general population and national healthy eating guidelines.
- Data collection was completed from July to December 2023 from over 200 participants from multiple Single Homeless Project, Sapphire Independent Housing, Look Ahead, St Mungos and other hostels.
- The sample size is high considering that this research has not been conducted before and that often people in hostels are often unable to participate.
- After data analysis and interpretation, we will share findings and recommendations.
We plan to share with multiple bodies nationwide, as well as local and regional government and the Greater London Authority, and with the hostels who kindly participated.
We are looking for more places to disseminate the findings. Be in touch with info@feastwithus.org.uk if you want to have the findings shared with your team, service, hostel, or organisation.
