The ongoing saga around federal nutrition aid is yet another moment that highlights how food insecurity can lead to long-term health consequences, according to Seattle-area dietitians.

The future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which feeds roughly 42 million Americans, remained uncertain Monday, as the longest government shutdown in history continued. For many communities, losing access to SNAP benefits would likely translate to higher rates of food insecurity — which extensive research has shown is linked to serious health issues, from diabetes to cognitive decline.

“It’s rare to have one of those areas as a researcher where … on a particular question, we know enough,” said Marie Spiker, a registered dietitian and researcher at the University of Washington’s School of

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