What Is Food Insecurity?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistorySignsTypesImpactReducing Food Insecurity

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Table of Contents

History

Signs

Types

Impact

Reducing Food Insecurity

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Food insecurity is a global problem impacting individuals and families of all economic backgrounds. It occurs when people lack access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle due to inadequate resources or limited access to safe and nutritious foods.

Food insecurity has numerous health-related consequences including poor physical and mental health, lower academic achievement in children, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Food insecurity is also known as “food poverty.” In general, it is not the same as a food shortage, which describes a situation when there are too few food items available in a specific area. Food insecurity occurs when sufficient food supplies exist but remain inaccessible to particular individuals and families due to economic constraints such as poverty or unemployment.

History of Food Insecurity

Food insecurity has a long and problematic history—it is not a new phenomenon. In the United States, it can be traced back to colonial times when farmers faced cycles of abundant and scarce harvests. The Great Depression in the 1930s exacerbated food insecurity as many people lost their jobs and income sources.In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson declared a “war onpoverty” in response to growing concern about food insecurity.Since then, poverty has consistently been linked to food insecurity and hunger.

Signs of Food Insecurity

Signs of food insecurity include skipping meals; reducing portion sizes at meal times; having to choose between paying for food and other basic needs such as rent or electricity; relying on food pantries, soup kitchens, and free meal programs; and being unable to afford a balanced diet.

Below is a list of some other signs of food insecurity:

These signs are not always easy to spot in someone else’s life, but being aware of them can enable people to identify food insecurity in their own lives or those of others and provide assistance if needed.

Types of Food Insecurity

There are two types of food insecurity: persistent and transient.

Persistent Food Insecurity

This type occurs when individuals experience persistent hunger, malnutrition, and other health problems associated with inadequate access to nutritious foods. It typically affects people over a long period of time due to poverty orunemployment.

Transient Food Insecurity

Impact of Food Insecurity

The impact of food insecurity is far-reaching and can have serious physical, mental, and social consequences for individuals and their families. Below are some of the ways in which food insecurity can affect people:

Tips for Reducing Food Insecurity

Reducing food insecurity is a complex task, but there are steps people can take to make a difference. Here are some tips for individuals and communities looking to reduce food insecurity:

Food insecurity is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world. It can have devastating physical, mental, and social consequences for individuals and their families. Taking steps to reduce food insecurity—such as donating, volunteering, advocating for policy change, and creating support systems—can make a difference in the lives of those experiencing this issue.

If you are going through food insecurity yourself or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Organizations likeFeeding Americacan provide assistance and resources.

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.US Department of Agriculture.Definitions of Food Security.Library of Congress.Americans react to the Great Depression.US Department of Health and Human Services.Head Start History.US Department of Agriculture.Key Statistics and Graphics.Tsegaye AT, Tariku A, Worku AG, et al.Reducing amount and frequency of meal as a major coping strategy for food insecurity.Arch Public Health. 2018;76:56. Published 2018 Oct 4. doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0303-3US Department of Agriculture.Who Are the World’s Food Insecure? Identifying the Risk Factors of Food Insecurity Around the World.Liese AD, Sharpe PA, Bell BA, Hutto B, Stucker J, Wilcox S.Persistence and transience of food insecurity and predictors among residents of two disadvantaged communities in South Carolina. Appetite. 2021 Jun 1;161:105128. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105128. Epub 2021 Jan 26. PMID: 33513414; PMCID: PMC7987735.Forbes.How Does Food Insecurity Affect Physical And Mental Health?Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, et al.Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis[published correction appears in Public Health Nutr. 2020 Jul;23(10):1854].Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(10):1778-1790. doi:10.1017/S136898001900435XJyoti DF, Frongillo EA, Jones SJ.Food insecurity affects school children’s academic performance, weight gain, and social skills.J Nutr. 2005;135(12):2831-2839. doi:10.1093/jn/135.12.2831Men F, Fischer B, Urquia ML, Tarasuk V.Food insecurity, chronic pain, and use of prescription opioids.SSM Popul Health. 2021;14:100768. Published 2021 Mar 9. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100768

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.US Department of Agriculture.Definitions of Food Security.Library of Congress.Americans react to the Great Depression.US Department of Health and Human Services.Head Start History.US Department of Agriculture.Key Statistics and Graphics.Tsegaye AT, Tariku A, Worku AG, et al.Reducing amount and frequency of meal as a major coping strategy for food insecurity.Arch Public Health. 2018;76:56. Published 2018 Oct 4. doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0303-3US Department of Agriculture.Who Are the World’s Food Insecure? Identifying the Risk Factors of Food Insecurity Around the World.Liese AD, Sharpe PA, Bell BA, Hutto B, Stucker J, Wilcox S.Persistence and transience of food insecurity and predictors among residents of two disadvantaged communities in South Carolina. Appetite. 2021 Jun 1;161:105128. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105128. Epub 2021 Jan 26. PMID: 33513414; PMCID: PMC7987735.Forbes.How Does Food Insecurity Affect Physical And Mental Health?Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, et al.Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis[published correction appears in Public Health Nutr. 2020 Jul;23(10):1854].Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(10):1778-1790. doi:10.1017/S136898001900435XJyoti DF, Frongillo EA, Jones SJ.Food insecurity affects school children’s academic performance, weight gain, and social skills.J Nutr. 2005;135(12):2831-2839. doi:10.1093/jn/135.12.2831Men F, Fischer B, Urquia ML, Tarasuk V.Food insecurity, chronic pain, and use of prescription opioids.SSM Popul Health. 2021;14:100768. Published 2021 Mar 9. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100768

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

US Department of Agriculture.Definitions of Food Security.Library of Congress.Americans react to the Great Depression.US Department of Health and Human Services.Head Start History.US Department of Agriculture.Key Statistics and Graphics.Tsegaye AT, Tariku A, Worku AG, et al.Reducing amount and frequency of meal as a major coping strategy for food insecurity.Arch Public Health. 2018;76:56. Published 2018 Oct 4. doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0303-3US Department of Agriculture.Who Are the World’s Food Insecure? Identifying the Risk Factors of Food Insecurity Around the World.Liese AD, Sharpe PA, Bell BA, Hutto B, Stucker J, Wilcox S.Persistence and transience of food insecurity and predictors among residents of two disadvantaged communities in South Carolina. Appetite. 2021 Jun 1;161:105128. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105128. Epub 2021 Jan 26. PMID: 33513414; PMCID: PMC7987735.Forbes.How Does Food Insecurity Affect Physical And Mental Health?Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, et al.Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis[published correction appears in Public Health Nutr. 2020 Jul;23(10):1854].Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(10):1778-1790. doi:10.1017/S136898001900435XJyoti DF, Frongillo EA, Jones SJ.Food insecurity affects school children’s academic performance, weight gain, and social skills.J Nutr. 2005;135(12):2831-2839. doi:10.1093/jn/135.12.2831Men F, Fischer B, Urquia ML, Tarasuk V.Food insecurity, chronic pain, and use of prescription opioids.SSM Popul Health. 2021;14:100768. Published 2021 Mar 9. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100768

US Department of Agriculture.Definitions of Food Security.

Library of Congress.Americans react to the Great Depression.

US Department of Health and Human Services.Head Start History.

US Department of Agriculture.Key Statistics and Graphics.

Tsegaye AT, Tariku A, Worku AG, et al.Reducing amount and frequency of meal as a major coping strategy for food insecurity.Arch Public Health. 2018;76:56. Published 2018 Oct 4. doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0303-3

US Department of Agriculture.Who Are the World’s Food Insecure? Identifying the Risk Factors of Food Insecurity Around the World.

Liese AD, Sharpe PA, Bell BA, Hutto B, Stucker J, Wilcox S.Persistence and transience of food insecurity and predictors among residents of two disadvantaged communities in South Carolina. Appetite. 2021 Jun 1;161:105128. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105128. Epub 2021 Jan 26. PMID: 33513414; PMCID: PMC7987735.

Forbes.How Does Food Insecurity Affect Physical And Mental Health?

Pourmotabbed A, Moradi S, Babaei A, et al.Food insecurity and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis[published correction appears in Public Health Nutr. 2020 Jul;23(10):1854].Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(10):1778-1790. doi:10.1017/S136898001900435X

Jyoti DF, Frongillo EA, Jones SJ.Food insecurity affects school children’s academic performance, weight gain, and social skills.J Nutr. 2005;135(12):2831-2839. doi:10.1093/jn/135.12.2831

Men F, Fischer B, Urquia ML, Tarasuk V.Food insecurity, chronic pain, and use of prescription opioids.SSM Popul Health. 2021;14:100768. Published 2021 Mar 9. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100768

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