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

1 in 6 Americans are Hungry 7"Hunger Facts." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts.aspx>.

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

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 http://thehungergap.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Food_Security_Infographic_CFBSA_web.jpg

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

USDA Key Statistics http://www.ers.usda.gov/ImageGen.ashx?image=/media/136811/household_ers.png&width=450

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

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% http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Ohio_in_United_States.svg/1181px-Ohio_in_United_States.svg.png 6"Child Hunger in Ohio." Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://ohiofoodbanks.org/sfspsummit/childhunger.pdf>.

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 2004 found a positive correlation between low income level and food insecurity of Lower Mississippi Delta residents8

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 http://assets.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/articles/images/FoodInsecuritybyRace.jpg

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. 2014. <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/hunger.html>.

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 http://wlucampuskitchens.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/rockbridge-food-insecurity-rates.jpg 9"National Coalition for the Homeless." National Coalition for the Homeless. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/hunger.html>.

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

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. 2014. <http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/physical-and-mental-health.aspx.>.

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

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 http://www.thebeginwithinblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/child_nutrition.png

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

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

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. 2014. <http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance.aspx#.U0qpaX-9KK0>.

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 http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/3d/2e/3d2e97d831683adc2adfbc8873406edf.jpg?itok=oAfzBxN8

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. 2014. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/280/food-security-food-access>.

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

Resources 1"Food Deserts." Food Empowerment Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.foodispower.org/food-deserts/>. 2"What Is Food Insecurity? - TFBN." TFBN What Is Food Insecurity Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://tfbn.org/food-insecurity/>. 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. 2014. <http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition- assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food- security.aspx#.U0fSH3-9KK0>. 4"Http://www.ers.usda.gov/ersDownloadHandler.ashx?file=/media/118320 4/err-155-report-summary.pdf." N.p., n.d. Web. 5"Hunger & Poverty Statistics." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. <http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger- and-poverty-statistics.aspx>.

Resources cont’d 6"Child Hunger in Ohio." Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. http://ohiofoodbanks.org/sfspsummit/childhunger.pdf.  7"Hunger Facts." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger- facts.aspx>. 8National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15085632>. 9"National Coalition for the Homeless." National Coalition for the Homeless. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/hunger.html>. 10Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of- hunger/physical-and-mental-health.aspx.>.

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.): 2330-335. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pippa_Simpson2/publication/8378109_Household_food _insecurity_is_associated_with_adult_health_status/file/5046352b85b5069fad.pdf>. 12"Food Insecurity." Child Trends. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=food-insecurity>. 13"USDA ERS - Food & Nutrition Assistance." USDA ERS - Food & Nutrition Assistance. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition- assistance.aspx#.U0qpaX-9KK0>. 14"Hunger Study 2010." Feeding America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/hunger-study-2010.aspx>. 15"GRACE Communications Foundation." GRACE Communications Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. http://www.sustainabletable.org/280/food-security-food-access.