The Reality of Food Insecurity

Written by Randy Yan and Edited by Catherine Zhang

Even in a country as industrialized as the United States, food insecurity, the disruption of food consumption due to a lack of money, remains prevalent [2]. In fact, a study in 2017 related that 11.8% of households were food insecure during some time in their lives [1].  Food insecurity is a major public health issue that many nations face as health maintenance becomes more expensive as the cost of living increases. This problem is an under-recognized social determinant of health– a barrier affecting the quality of life and health in an individual [3].

Many factors lead to food insecurity, ranging from socioeconomic status to race and ethnicity. Within each of these factors, different circumstances contribute to households becoming food insecure. Factors such as low-income, high unemployment, and racial and ethnic disparities can make it difficult for households to make ends meet [4]. These factors relate to food insecurity since some populations, especially those from low-income neighborhoods, often have limited access to grocery stores that provide fresh produce. Different conditions of neighborhoods can have influence over what food people have access to [5]. Impoverished communities have “food deserts,” which are areas that lack access to fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthy whole food choices [6]. As a direct result of being food insecure, individuals are at a higher risk for developing certain diseases. 

In a study conducted in rural Appalachian Ohio counties, researchers discovered that food-insecure adults are at an increased risk for obesity [7]. They found that the highest rates of obesity are correlated to areas of the highest poverty rates and least amount of education. This is because high and sugar diets are more affordable than healthier diets based on lean meats, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Furthermore, a separate report relates that among areas with food insecurity rates that fall in the top 10% of all areas surveyed, one in eight individuals were reported to have been diagnosed with diabetes. One in three were also reported to experience symptoms of obesity [8]. The low cost of unhealthy food; therefore, leads to lower income families becoming more susceptible to health related risks.

Food insecurity has a strong presence on most, if not all, college campuses today.  In 2016, a system-wide study at the University of California found that over 23% of its students were experiencing food insecurity [12]. The rising cost of attending higher education puts a huge financial burden on college students, thus putting a barrier on accessing their fundamental basic needs. In a study conducted at several colleges in Georgia, students who were experiencing food insecurity tended to under-perform academically [11]. One probable reason is because these developing individuals are not receiving proper nutrition and are more likely to develop negative sleep patterns and sleep problems than those individuals with a nutritious diet [9]. Another reason may be that food insecure students are worrying  more about whether they can make ends meet rather than their academics. To ameliorate this issue, solutions need to be sought out and created.

For college students, short-term solutions to address food insecurity include opening food banks and pantries that include healthy food options. For the rest of the country, expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may be the best solution to solving the problem [13]. SNAP provides financial support to help supplement the food budget of families in need of assistance with purchasing more healthy foods [14]. This program helps connect people to healthier foods and resources. Other programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Summer Food Program, all cater towards ensuring children enrolled in schools have access to food. However, these are all only short-term options to solve a long-term problem. 

There is a clear relationship between food insecurity and declining health. Food is a vital basic needs that humans need to not only thrive, but also survive [15]. In order to resolve the issue of food insecurity, we need to work towards long-term solutions with the government, nonprofit organizations, health care sector, and research institutions to come up with effective strategies that will tackle this issue once and for all. Food insecurity is a public health crisis sweeping the nation, and as a society, it is our responsibility to work on solutions to better ourselves and our communities and improve the quality of life for future generations to come. 

References:

1. “Food Security Status of U.S. Households in 2017.” US Department of Agriculture: Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx 
2. Nord, M., Andrews, M., Carlson, S. (2005). Household Food Security in the United States. Economic Research Service, 29: 1-60. 
3. “Social determinants of health.” The World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/
4. Nord, M. (2007). Characteristics of Low-Income Households With Very Low Food Security. Economic Research Service.
5. Zenk, S.N., Schulz, A.J., Israel, B.A., James, S.A., Bao, S., & Wilson, M.L. (2005). Neighborhood racial composition, neighborhood poverty, and the spatial accessibility of supermarkets in metropolitan Detroit. American journal of public health, 95: 660–667. 
6. “USDA Defines Food Deserts.” American Nutrition Association. http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/usda-defines-food-deserts
7. Holben, D.H., Pheley, A.M. (2006). Diabetes Risk and Obesity in Food-Insecure Households in Rural Appalachian Ohio. Preventing Chronic Disease, 3: 3. 
8. “Health Implications of Food Insecurity.” Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2019-05/2017-map-the-meal-gap-health-implications_0.pdf
9. Robson, S.M., Lozano, A.J., Papas, M., & Patterson, F. (2017). Food Insecurity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adolescents. Preventing chronic disease, 14: E110. 
10. Hilmers, A., Hilmers, D.C., & Dave, J. (2012). Neighborhood disparities in access to healthy foods and their effects on environmental justice. American journal of public health, 102: 1644–1654. 
11. Raskind, I.G., Haardörfer, R., & Berg, C.J. (2019). Food insecurity, psychosocial health and academic performance among college and university students in Georgia, USA. Public health nutrition, 22: 476–485. 
12. “Student Food Access and Security Study.” University of California: Global Food Initiative. https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/july16/e1attach.pdf
13. Galvin, G. “Food Insecurity in America Tied to Prices, Poverty.” US News. https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-05-01/food-insecurity-in-america-tied-to-food-prices-poverty
14. “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).” US Department of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition Service. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program

Murthy, V.H. (2016). Food Insecurity: A Public Health Issue. Public Health Reports, 131: 655-657.