Food Security, Hunger, and Malnutrition Chapter 15

What Is Food Security? Persistent hunger Food security Food insecurity 1 in 7 people worldwide Affects people in every country Food security Able to obtain sufficient nutritious food Food insecurity Poverty, war, natural disaster Degrees Adequate food produced in the world

What Is Food Security? Varied responses to food insecurity Feelings Family dynamics Social interactions

What Is Food Security? Prevalence of food insecurity in U.S. Average: $44 per person per week for food Food availability and access Low food security Very low food security Groups at greatest risk for hunger Food insecurity is expected to increase Prevalence among children

What Is Food Security? Poverty Is not only a problem among the unemployed 40% of adults requesting food assistance are employed Households with income above the poverty line also experience food insecurity

What Is Food Security? Food insecurity Living location Race and ethnicity Head of household Single moms Socioeconomically disadvantaged communities Food desert Adverse health outcomes

State-Level Prevalence of Food Insecurity

What Are the Consequences of Food Insecurity? Mothers Children Most significant long-term effects School difficulties Standardized tests and absences Behavioral problems Depression Suicide Older adults

What Are the Consequences of Food Insecurity? Food-based assistance in U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT cards Federal program Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) USDA WIC-approved nutrient-dense foods

What Are the Consequences of Food Insecurity? Food-based assistance in the U.S. Other federally funded programs National school lunch program School breakfast program Privately funded programs Food banks Food pantry Food kitchen Food recovery program

Select Federal Food Assistance Programs

What Causes Worldwide Hunger and Malnutrition? 16% of people in poor countries do not have enough to eat Asia has largest number of hungry people Sub-Saharan Africa has highest percentage

International Prevalence of Food Insecurity

What Causes Worldwide Hunger and Malnutrition? Factors contributing to food insecurity Political unrest Urbanization Production, procurement, & distribution Composition of diets Population growth Gender inequality Educational and employment opportunities

What Causes Worldwide Hunger and Malnutrition? Consequence of food insecurity Undernutrition Short-term and long-term effects Overnutrition Forms Nutrient deficiencies Iron, iodine, vitamin A Energy deficiency

What Causes Worldwide Hunger and Malnutrition? Individual consequences Pregnancy Low-birth-weight baby High death rate among children & infants Worsen adverse effects of disease Growth and development for children Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)

What Causes Worldwide Hunger and Malnutrition? Societal consequences Economic growth Standard of living International organizations United Nations Conditional cash-transfer program U.S. Peace Corps Heifer International Living loans

What Can You Do to Alleviate Food Insecurity? Factors influencing food insecurity Improve food availability and access Influential economic and social circumstances Take action against hunger