Source: feedingamerica.org
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity can affect all families and individuals: children, employed or unemployed adults and parents, seniors and those with disabilities. In the United States, over 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity annually.
According to estimates from Feeding America, more than 380,000 Connecticut residents struggle with hunger; more than 83,000 children are food insecure. (Source: ctfoodshare.org)
These are people from all walks of life – children, working parents, seniors, or people living with disabilities. They are your neighbors.
Even in wealthy states and towns, there is need for food assistance in every community. Sometimes the difference between a family that uses a food program and one that doesn’t is the sudden loss of a job, an illness or unexpected rise in health care or utilities expenses. Causes of food insecurity can include unemployment, poverty, and unexpected setbacks to income such as medical expenses, increase in utility costs, natural disaster, or a family crisis. Even people with a steady income and access to affordable housing can experience some of these temporary setbacks, limiting their access at times to enough food.
The Health Implications of Food Insecurity
The health implications of food insecurity in adults include the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity -- and in children, health, behavior, and educational related issues. (Source: feedingamerica.org)
Social Determinants
The social determinants of health are economic and socioeconomic factors that impact wellness and chronic disease risk. There are many social determinants, including food access, income, education level, housing, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); many are linked to one’s ethnicity and race, as certain populations are disproportionately affected within certain geographical areas and societies.
According to researchers, social inequalities are created before the onset of chronic disease rather than after it. This means that social inequality is the cause, not the result or a factor in the prognosis, of the illness. (Source: (2020). The Lancet Public Health, 5(1), e42–e50. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(19)30226-9)
Throughout the world, illness and poverty go hand in hand and can affect the economic well-being of an individual, households, and society. Community health policies and infrastructure that make healthy food and lifestyle options affordable and accessible are critical to helping people adopt and sustain health practices that prevent chronic disease.
