Nutrition & You: Hunger at Home and Abroad - Chapter 16 Study Notes

Objectives for Chapter 16

  • 16.1 Define food insecurity, food security, and hunger, and summarize the extent of food insecurity in the United States and worldwide.

  • 16.2 Explain some of the causes of food insecurity in the United States.

  • 16.3 Explain some of the causes of food insecurity worldwide.

  • 16.4 List populations at highest risk for experiencing undernutrition.

  • 16.5 Describe the effects of chronic malnutrition.

  • 16.6 Describe some of the strategies currently in use to reduce food insecurity.

What Are Food Insecurity, Food Security, and Hunger?

Definitions

  • Food Security: According to the USDA, an American household is food secure if it has access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.

  • Food Insecurity: This occurs when any member of a household does not have the resources needed to obtain adequate amounts of nutritious food.

Prevalence of Food Insecurity

  • A significant number of individuals in the United States and across the globe experience food insecurity.

  • In 2016:

    • 12.3% of American households (approximately 15.6 million households) experienced food insecurity at some point during the year.

    • 10.8 million adults resided in households with very low food security.

    • Nearly half of all college students faced food insecurity.

  • These food insecurity rates are lower when compared to several other countries.

Hunger

  • Hunger is described as an individual-level physiological condition that may stem from food insecurity.

  • Prolonged exposure to hunger can lead to starvation.

Spectrum of Food Security

  • The relationship between food security and malnutrition can be illustrated as a continuum:

    • Food Security → Food Insecurity → Malnutrition → Hunger → Starvation → Death

Definitions of Countries

  • Developed Country: A nation marked by advanced industrial capability, technological sophistication, and economic productivity. Examples include the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Western Europe.

  • Developing Country: A nation exhibiting relative underdevelopment in industrial capacity and economic productivity. Examples are Brazil, China, India, and Saudi Arabia.

  • Least Developed Country: The nations that are the least advanced. Typically the poorest countries in Africa.

Global Food Insecurity

  • According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2016, the number of chronically undernourished people globally increased to 815 million, representing a 5% increase from 2015.

  • Approximately 1 in 10 people worldwide, or 9.3%, suffer from food insecurity.

  • A 2013 report from the World Bank estimated that 1.1 billion people in developing countries live on $1.90 a day or less.

Causes of Food Insecurity in the United States

Overview

  • In the United States, food insecurity is primarily driven by poverty.

Poverty Statistics

  • A family of four is classified as impoverished if its annual income is at or below $24,339.

  • An annual income of $12,694 is deemed deep poverty, impacting 18 million Americans, including 8% of all children.

  • In 2016, approximately 43.1 million Americans (or 12.7% of the population) lived at or below poverty levels, showing a continuing decline since 2013.

Food Insecurity Demographics

  • The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that certain demographics experience higher levels of food insecurity:

    • Households with incomes below 185% of the poverty threshold: 34.8%.

    • Households with children headed by a single woman: 34.4%.

    • Black, non-Hispanic households: 26.1%.

    • Hispanic households: 23.7%.

Employment and Food Security

  • Even steady employment does not guarantee food security.

  • In 2012, about 10.6 million individuals were classified as working poor, in households with insufficient funds to adequately feed everyone.

Geographic Food Challenges

  • Food Deserts: Areas lacking access to a supermarket within 1.4 miles, leading to a deficiency in nutritious food options.

  • Food Swamps: Regions with a high concentration of establishments selling high-calorie fast food compared to healthier options.

Health Issues

  • Health problems such as chronic illnesses, disabilities, substance abuse, and mental illness significantly contribute to food insecurity among Americans.

Causes of Food Insecurity and Poverty Around the Globe

Social Factors

  • Discrimination and inequality significantly promote poverty, leading to reduced employment opportunities, lower educational achievements, and fewer business opportunities.

  • Vulnerable groups include:

    • Women

    • Elderly individuals

    • People with disabilities

    • Refugees

    • Orphans

    • Migrant workers

    • The illiterate, with male/female educational disparities representing a critical concern.

    • It is estimated that two-thirds of nearly 750 million illiterate adults globally are women.

Political Factors

  • Political sanctions, wars, and civil unrest can lead to food shortages and famine, with governments sometimes reallocating funds from nutrition and food distribution efforts.

Environmental Factors

  • Natural disasters, like drought, are primary contributors to hunger in poorer nations, often exacerbated by ineffective agricultural practices such as overcropping.

Population Issues

  • The world population is projected to reach 11.2 billion by 2100, putting additional pressure on food production and nutritional status.

Who Is at Increased Risk for Undernutrition?

  • Populations at heightened risk include:

    • Pregnant and lactating women

    • Infants and small children

    • The critically ill

    • Older adults

Effects of Chronic Malnutrition

General Effects

  • The transition from food insecurity to undernutrition, malnutrition, and hunger can make recovery extremely difficult.

  • Famine and malnutrition lead to degradation of stored fat, muscle tissue, and internal organs.

  • In cases of starvation, adults can lose up to 50% of their body weight.

  • Chronic malnutrition can lead to deterioration of the intestinal tract and liver.

Specific Effects on Children

  • Chronic malnutrition manifests in impaired growth and development in children, affecting both physical and mental health.

  • Stunting: This condition arises from malnutrition during fetal development and early childhood. Its effects are often irreversible.

  • Wasting: Characterized by severely low energy intake due to insufficient food, also known as acute malnutrition.

Impaired Immunity and Disease

  • Malnutrition compromises the immune system, leading to an increased susceptibility to diseases like:

    • Fever

    • Parasitic diseases

    • Pneumonia

    • Measles

    • Malaria

    • Diarrhea, which can trigger chronic dehydration and be potentially fatal.

  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, termed "hidden hunger," can instigate severe health issues.

Child Mortality

  • Malnutrition increases infant and child mortality rates, passing down the effects of malnutrition from one generation to the next. Undernourished women may give birth to similarly malnourished infants, who face elevated risks of chronic illness and premature death.

Strategies to Reduce Food Insecurity

Local Level Initiatives

  • Locally, individuals, families, churches, and community relief agencies actively seek and assist those lacking sufficient resources.

  • Corporations and governments can contribute by providing aid and fostering economic opportunities.

Food Assistance Programs in the United States

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • Eligibility: Low-income (for a family of four, net monthly income must not exceed $2,665).

  • Description: Eligible individuals receive a debit card for buying approved foods at authorized supermarkets. Not covered: alcohol, tobacco, nonfood items, vitamins, medicines, and hot foods.

  • Prevalence: Over 40 million people utilized SNAP monthly in early 2018.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

  • Eligibility: At-risk, low-income pregnant and lactating women, infants, and children under five.

  • Description: Provides culturally appropriate and nutritious food, emphasizing education and healthcare referrals.

  • Prevalence: Approximately 6.8 million women, infants, and children participated per month in 2018.

National School Lunch Program

  • Eligibility: Children whose families earn at or below 130% of the poverty level.

  • Description: Provides free or reduced-price lunches, with some schools offering subsidized breakfasts.

  • Prevalence: Served over 31.6 million American children in 2012.

Other Programs

  • Summer Food Service Program: Combines meal provision with summer activities for children, with over 2.65 million children served in 2017.

  • Child and Adult Care Food Program: Provides meals for low-income children and seniors outside of the home, serving over 3.3 million children and 120,000 adults daily.

  • Meals on Wheels America: Serves nearly 2.5 million seniors by delivering meals to homes or community sites.

Land Management and Sanitation

  • Effective land management and sanitation are critical for food security, as safe water is essential alongside food accessibility.

Food Fortification

  • Fortifying foods with micronutrients like iodine, iron, and vitamin A addresses nutritional deficiencies.

Education

  • Education is pivotal in enhancing food security and has been linked to:

    • Better management of natural resources

    • More rapid adaptation to technological advancements

    • Improved health outcomes and longer life spans

    • Increased civic engagement

    • Broader opportunities for personal development.

Individual Contributions

  • Individuals can actively contribute by:

    • Donating food or funds to local food banks

    • Volunteering time and effort to combat hunger.

Conclusion

  • Addressing food insecurity requires a multi-faceted approach involving education, community initiatives, governmental policies, and global cooperation to mitigate the various causes ranging from economic instability to environmental challenges.