FOOD INSECURITY WHO’S AFFECTED? WHY DOES IT MATTER? Audrey C. McCool, EdD, RDN, LD
Learning Objectives 2 Session Participants will: Have increased understanding of the extent of food insecurity throughout the U.S. and in their local area (Vermont). Recognize that there are multiple causes of food insecurity, not all of which are related to persons’ income level. Understand that food insecurity impacts not just individuals, but has an impact on the total community, including the health care system. Appreciate that they have a role in addressing food insecurity in their community.
Food Insecurity – What Is It? 3 Food insecurity and hunger are NOT the same. Hunger: The uneasy or painful sensation caused by a lack of food, or the recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food 1 Hunger is an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity 2 ; hunger describes the physical pain & discomfort an individual experiences 9 Food Insecurity: The limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways 1 Food insecurity is a social, cultural, or economic state 9 Low food security is indicated by reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake 2 Very low food security is characterized by multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake 2 What is often the hunger What we think of as reality we don’t see hunger
Indicators of Food Insecurity 4 Percentage of Households Reporting Indicators of Adult Food Insecurity, by Food Security Status, 2014 All households without children that were classified Worried Food Would Run Out as having very low Food Bought Did Not Last food security reported at least six Could Not Afford Balanced Meal of these conditions, and 69% reported Cut Size of Meal or Skipped Meal seven or more. Food-insecure Cut of Skipped Meal in 3+ Months conditions in Ate Less Than Felt Should households with children followed a Hungry But Did Not Eat similar pattern 2 Lost Weight Did Not Eat Whole Day Did not Eat Whole Day, 3+ Months 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Source: Calculated by ERS using data from the December 2014 Current Population Survey Food Security Supp lement 2
Who Are The Food Insecure? 5 Food insecurity exists in every county in the U.S . In 2014 3,4 : Approximately 1 in 7 households (14%) were food insecure 6% of households had very low food insecurity Children were food insecure in 9.4% of households with children On average, a food secure household spent 26% more on food than did a typical food-insecure household of the same size and composition (including food purchased with SNAP program benefits) Rates of food insecurity were substantially higher than the national average for households with: Incomes near or below the Federal poverty line Children headed by single women or single men Black or Hispanic families 10% of seniors over age 65 were food insecure
Rural Hunger and Food Insecurity 6 Rates of rural household insecurity are generally higher than for urban households Ironically, many food insecure rural households are in the farm communities whose productivity feeds not only American consumers, but much of the world Rural counties account for 43% of all the counties in the U.S. 17% of rural households are food insecure (estimated 3.3 million) 54% of the U.S. counties with the highest rates of food insecurity are in rural areas 62% of the U.S. counties with the highest rates of CHILD food insecurity are in rural areas 17% of rural Americans live below the federal poverty line 46% of people in families with a single female head of household living in rural areas were poor, compared to 37% in the suburban metropolitan areas 7
Hunger & Food Insecurity in Vermont 7 In 2014, 1 in 4 (25%) of the population accessed programs such as the Food Bank or other meal service programs (such as the senior meal programs) for food for themselves or for their family. This number included: 33,900 children 26,010 seniors 76% of households reported being food insecure Vermont Food Bank ethnic demographics: 88% were White (Caucasian) 1% were Black (African American) 2% Hispanic (Latino) 18% of households accessing the Vermont Food Bank included a military veteran 24% were children under age 18 17% were seniors (age 60 and older) 5
Hunger & Food Insecurity in Vermont 8 Health problems and food insecurity go hand-in-hand Among food insecure households: 23% had at least one member with diabetes 46% had at least one member with hypertension 56 % reported having to choose between paying for food or for medicine or medical care at least once in the past 12 months 72% reported purchasing inexpensive, unhealthy food because they could not afford healthier food Many households had to choose between paying for food or meeting the cost of other needs: 63% between food or utilities 58% between food or transportation 52% between food or housing 20% between food or education expenses As many as 17 – 23% of households reported making these choices every month 5
Hunger and Food Insecurity 9 Among Seniors Seniors are facing increasing challenges trying to meet their food needs In 2012, 15.3% of all seniors were food insecure (9.3 million seniors) From 2001 to 2012, the % of all seniors who were food insecure increased by 44% From 2001 – 2012, the number of seniors who were food insecure increased by 98% - reflecting the growing population of seniors In 2012, seniors most at risk for food insecurity had incomes below the poverty line, were Black or Hispanic, and lived alone; 41% were disabled However, within the food insecure population, in 2012 the majority had incomes above the poverty line, were white, were married, and 60% were between the ages of 60 – 69 8,9
Hunger and Food Insecurity 10 Among Seniors Challenges that Increase the risk of food insecurity among seniors include: Increasing – sometimes unique – medical needs Leading to increased medical costs Medical conditions possibly requiring modified diet meals High incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and increasing incidence of renal disease High incidence of dental problems Increasing mobility challenges – disabilities – arthritis limiting hand movement Leading to difficulties in preparing and/or eating food Lack of motivation for food preparation or eating – often living alone Isolation, especially in rural areas – transportation challenges; lack of grocery stores Living on fixed incomes (social security, retirement programs) as food costs increase
Reasons for Hunger & Food Insecurity 11 POVERTY Poverty is the principal factor leading to household hunger and food insecurity. However, socioeconomic and political factors often underlie poverty – thus contribute to persons hunger & food insecurity Food Distribution U.S. Economic System Political-Agricultural Practices Substitution of commodity crops for food crops Heavy exportation of food crops Demand for bio-fuels Environmental Factors Lack of Knowledge 4,6
Reasons for Hunger & Food Insecurity 12 Miscellaneous Factors Increased Food Costs – Changes in Supply and Demand Housing Food deserts Transportation Physical Ability Life Style Choices 4,6
Strategies Persons Use to “Stretch” Their Food Supply 13 Eat food past the expiration date Purchase food in dented or damaged packages Purchase inexpensive food, unhealthy food, or highly filling foods Shop in bulk – select generic brands – use coupons Water down food or drinks Adults skip meals – give available food to their children Eat less at each meal Avoid food waste Grow food in a garden Eat with relatives or friends or a church Go to food pantries or soup kitchens Commit petty crime – get a meal in jail Participate in Federal nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC, Older Americans Meals) 1,5
Factors Impacting “Food Availability” 14 Equipment for Storage and Preparation Time for Preparation Time and Cost for Travel to Full-Service Store Poor Food Quality Food Variety Fear of Food Waste 1
Psychological Impact of Food Insecurity: 15 Disordered Eating Practices Cyclical Food Availability – such as from SNAP or WIC program supplements or monthly social security or welfare checks – can lead to disordered eating practices among food insecure persons Binge Eating Hoarding Food Obsessions Strong Preferences for Highly Filling Foods Extreme Avoidance of Food Waste 1
Food Insecurity, Hunger, and Obesity 16 A conundrum raising many questions is the relationship between high rates of food insecurity and obesity Why does this relationship matter???? In the U.S., persons living in the most poverty-dense counties and who have the least education are the persons most prone to obesity 11 Food insecurity without hunger appears to be associated with overweight among women – but not among men 12
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