Access to high-quality food, which is essential for achieving adequate nutritional status, can be compromised among the poorest populations. Surveys conducted at food aid distribution centers provide a better understanding of the challenges faced.

The Abena Study: Diet and Nutritional Status of Food Aid Recipients

A first edition in 2004–2005

The first edition of the Abena study was conducted during the winter distribution campaign, from November 2004 to April 2005, at the request of the State Secretariat for the Fight Against Exclusion as part of the Food and Integration Plan (2003). It responded to the desire of food aid associations to better understand recipients in order to tailor the assistance provided as the number of meals distributed increased. The objectives were to describe, among food aid recipients in four urban areas of metropolitan France (Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis, Dijon, Marseille):

• Sociodemographic profiles,

• Dietary habits,

• Nutritional status (body mass, blood pressure, and biological markers).

This epidemiological component was supplemented by a socio-anthropological component.

After sampling food assistance facilities, randomly selected users were invited to participate in the study by completing a questionnaire at the facility, followed by a clinical and biological examination at a health screening center operated by the French national health insurance system.

All results from this first edition were published in the form of two study reports, several scientific articles in international journals, and conference presentations.

A second edition in 2011–2012

To continue monitoring the nutritional status of vulnerable populations and track changes since 2004–2005, the Abena study was repeated during the winter of 2011–2012.
This work resulted from a scientific and financial partnership between Santé publique France, the Ile-de-France Regional Health Observatory (ORS-IDF), and the Directorate General for Social Cohesion (DGCS), with the support of a steering committee comprising representatives from food aid associations, scientists, public health stakeholders, and decision-making bodies.
The objectives of the 2011–2012 edition were to update knowledge on the sociodemographic profiles, dietary habits, and nutritional status (body mass, blood pressure, and biological markers) of people relying on food assistance and to describe changes since 2004–2005.
To enable comparisons, the study was repeated, following a protocol similar to that of the first edition, in the four original urban areas (Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis, Dijon, and Marseille), to which the departments of Hauts-de-Seine and Val-de-Marne were added.
New topics, including food insecurity, access to healthcare, and sleep disorders, were introduced in this second edition.

Click here to access the publications from the Abena study.