1. Foundations of Health Promotion & Education
Food Insecurity
Megan Fuchs
Foundations of Health Promotion & Education
HPE 7011

2. 1 in 6 Americans are Hungry
7"Hunger Facts." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr <

3. Food Desert vs. Food Insecurity
The terms “food desert” and “food insecurity” are often lumped together or considered the same thing but it is important to note the difference in both
Unlike food insecurity, a food desert is usually described as a “geographic area where residents access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance”1
Food deserts are also more common in low-income neighborhoods where residents have limited or no access to a car
According to a report from the Economic Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture 2.3 million people do not own a car and live more than one mile from a grocery store1

4. What is Food Insecurity?
The USDA defines food insecurity as “consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year”2

5. What is Food Insecurity cont’d
Furthermore, the USDA has broken down this definition to describe the range of food insecurity amongst community members
Low Food Security is defined when a family reports “reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake”3
Very Low Food Security is defined when a family reports “multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced intake”3

6. USDA Key Statistics

7. Food Insecurity Across America
According to the USDA’s latest report in 2012, it was estimated that 14.5% of American households were food insecure at least one time during the year4
An estimated 5.7% of households were found to have very low food security4
1 in 6 American’s face hunger7

8. Food Insecurity in Our Local Communities
In 2010, 16.4% of Ohio residents were considered food insecure6
A partnership between Feeding America and Mathematica Policy Institute, Inc found in 2010 that households in Ohio with a child under the age of 18 experienced…
Some form of food insecurity = 84%
Very Low Food security = 39%
6"Child Hunger in Ohio." Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 10 Apr <

9. The Prevalence of Food Insecurity
Food insecurity does not have a common face – all American’s are subject to food insecurity at some point in their life regardless of their race, age, gender, family size or geographical region
Although food insecurity can be found in all communities across America, a study out of the Journal of Rural Health in found a positive correlation between low income level and food insecurity of Lower Mississippi Delta residents8

10. The Prevalence of Food Insecurity cont’d
Food insecurity is based on a household situation rather than an individual situation2
Households with children are twice as likely to experience food insecurity compared to those without children
A single Hispanic mother with children living in a major southern city is the most likely family to go hungry according to the USDA Economic Research Service9

11. Food Insecurity’s Prevalence in Specific Households
Households that experience food insecurity based on race
Households that experience food insecurity based on marital status
26.1% Hispanic households
25.2% Black households
10.8% White households
14% of married couples
35.1% of single women with children
25.4% of single men with children
9"National Coalition for the Homeless." National Coalition for the Homeless. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr <

12. What Leads to Food Insecurity?
Poverty!
Data has shown poverty rates and food insecurity levels are parallel to one another
This was especially seen during the most recent recession
9"National Coalition for the Homeless." National Coalition for the Homeless. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr <

13. What Leads to Food Insecurity cont’d
Although poverty is a major cause of food insecurity there are other causes that may fall under this umbrella9
Unemployment
High housing costs
Low wages
Lack of access to SNAP or other governmental assistance programs
Medical or health cost

14. Implications of Food Insecurity
Food insecurity effects an entire household – adults and children – alike
Two major consequences of food insecurity are related to one’s mental and physical health
Delayed development of physical and mental health as well as behaviors and social skills are all related to food insecurity
10Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr <

15. Implications of Food Insecurity – Adult Physical Health
The study Household Food Insecurity is Associated with Adult Health Status found “adults in food-insecure households were significantly more likely to rate their health as poor/fair and scored significantly lower on the physical and mental health scales of the SF-12”11
Food insecurity is associated with
Limited ability to lead an active and full life10
Increased risk of developing diabetes10
Can be linked to a variety of chronic diseases including hypertension, increased cardiovascular risk factors or hyperlipidemia10

16. Implications of Food Insecurity – Child Physical Health
Food insecurity is associated with
Increased risk of obesity12
Increased hospitalizations, iron deficiency anemia, or other chronic health problems12
Higher frequency of headaches, stomach aches, and colds12
“Recent research even shows that “marginal” food security is positively associated with poor health and developmental outcomes”12

17. Implications of Food Insecurity – Adult Mental Health
Food insecurity is associated with
Increased levels of anxiety and aggression10
Slow or decreased social skill development10

18. Implications of Food Insecurity – Child Mental Health
Food insecure children, of all ages, are at a greater risk of experiencing or developing some sort of mental health issue when compared to food secure children
Toddlers are at a greater risk of developing behavioral problems at a young age12
School age children are more likely to experience higher rates of anxiety and depression as well as psychosocial deficits12
Adolescents are at greater risk for depressive disorder or suicidal indentations12
Also, all children who experience some sort of food insecurity are more likely to fall behind in the classroom as well as in development of interpersonal skills or self-control12

19. What’s Being Done to Decrease Food Insecurity?
The USDA has implemented many food and nutrition programs to help increase food security throughout the United States
Some of the programs include
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
National School Lunch Program
School Breakfast Program
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Summer Food Service Program
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
13"USDA ERS - Food & Nutrition Assistance." USDA ERS - Food & Nutrition Assistance. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr <

20. Relief through Charitable Efforts
Organizations like Feeding America, FreeStore FoodBank and No Kid Hungry are just a few examples of actions being taken to decrease hunger in America
Hunger in America study series
Largest study looking at domestic hunger in which comprehensive and statistically-valid data on charitable food distribution is provided14
Specifically looks at the organization Feeding America and the people they serve

21. Other Factors that may Help Decrease Food Insecurity
Although decreasing poverty is one of the main ways to decrease food insecurity, other measures are being taken to solve this issue
These measures include
Increasing sustainable agriculture
Improving agricultural biodiversity
Governmental policy changes
15"GRACE Communications Foundation." GRACE Communications Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr <

22. Food Insecurity in Review
Food insecurity does not target one particular group of individuals, although research suggests a positive correlation between poverty and food insecure household
Food insecurity effects a household in a variety of ways, often times leading to multiple physical and mental health concerns
Various national and local organizations are working to decrease the prevalence of food insecurity throughout the US

23. Resources
1"Food Deserts." Food Empowerment Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr <
2"What Is Food Insecurity? - TFBN." TFBN What Is Food Insecurity Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr <
3"USDA ERS - Food Security in the U.S.: Definitions of Food Security." USDA ERS - Food Security in the U.S.: Definitions of Food Security. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr < assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food- security.aspx#.U0fSH3-9KK0>.
4" 4/err-155-report-summary.pdf." N.p., n.d. Web.
5"Hunger & Poverty Statistics." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr < and-poverty-statistics.aspx>.

24. Resources cont’d
6"Child Hunger in Ohio." Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 10 Apr
7"Hunger Facts." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr < facts.aspx>.
8National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 13 Apr <
9"National Coalition for the Homeless." National Coalition for the Homeless. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr <
10Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr < hunger/physical-and-mental-health.aspx.>.

25. Resources cont’d
11Stuff, Janic E., Patrick H. Casey, Kitty L. Szeto, Jeffrey M. Gossett, James M. Robbins, Pippa M. Simpson, Carol Connell, and Margaret L. Bogle. "Household Food Insecurity Is Associated with Adult Health Status." Community and International Nutrition (n.d.): Web. 10 Apr < _insecurity_is_associated_with_adult_health_status/file/ b85b5069fad.pdf>.
12"Food Insecurity." Child Trends. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr <
13"USDA ERS - Food & Nutrition Assistance." USDA ERS - Food & Nutrition Assistance. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr < assistance.aspx#.U0qpaX-9KK0>.
14"Hunger Study 2010." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr <
15"GRACE Communications Foundation." GRACE Communications Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr