First, food insecurity in relation to poverty level is typically based on current income, rather than looking at permanent income or income over a two-year period. 9 Researchers have noted various reasons for this. Many families reporting food insecurity have incomes above the official poverty line. However, food insecurity is not exclusively a problem among impoverished, unhealthy and socially isolated families. Households with limited income often face unwelcome tradeoffs between food and other types of necessities. Food insecurity in households is caused not only by poverty, but also by other overlapping issues such as affordable housing, social isolation, location and chronic health issues. Factors that Determine Food InsecurityĪs with many other social determinants of health, food insecurity is a multi-faceted issue with multiple causes. 7 For the purposes of this discussion, we will be analyzing food insecurity and policies used to address it. 6 Hunger refers to a personal, physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of available financial resources for food at the household level. While hunger and food insecurity are closely related, they are very distinct concepts. Households with high food security and marginal food security make up the food secure category, and households with low food security and very low food security make up the food insecure category (Table 1). Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is defined as ‘a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.’ 4 To better capture the severity of food insecurity at the household level, the USDA created four levels of food security. What Does It Mean To Be Food Insecure?Īccording to the U.S. This research brief explores the linkages between food insecurity, overall health and health care costs, and examines the pathways policymakers and healthcare providers can use to increase access to nutritious food. 2 Moreover, individuals who are food insecure are disproportionally affected by chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, which exacerbates adverse effects on overall health and wellbeing. Department of Agriculture found that food insecurity affects 11 percent of U.S. 1Īmong the various social determinants of health, food insecurity has one of the most extensive impacts on the overall health of individuals. These factors profoundly influence the health of individuals and communities in the United States. 41 | June 2020 Social Determinants of Health: Food Insecurity in the United Statesĭefined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people live, learn, work, and play.

State level food system indicators