What Is Food Insecurity?

Dollars vs. Fat & Sugar -- How Diabetes, Obesity, and Food Prices are Linked
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Food insecurity has been measured for the United States since 1995 and has stayed about the same since then. For example, roughly 33 percent of single women with children are food insecure compared to the average American household for which only 11 percent are food insecure. Because Black or Hispanic families usually earn less income, roughly 22 percent are food insecure. Living in the South and in the West is a little worse than the average but we have more immigrants there. Married couple seems to do better.

In 2007 (the most current numbers) 11 percent (13 million) U.S. households were food insecure at some point during the year according to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food insecurity means that people participated in food assistance programs, receiving food from a food bank or included family members whose eating patterns were disrupted because not enough food was available.Food pantries were established in the 1980s as a temporary solution but are still here today.

Source: Dr. David Holben
Assistant professor for food, nutrition, and hospitality at Ohio University
Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics


More on the topic on my blog:

Not All Fats Are Equal -- Dr. Darleen Berryman, Ohio University, on the Causes of the Obesity Epidemic and New Research Paths (extended video Interview)

The Greatest Barriers Are Economic -- Dr. Frank Schwartz, Ohio University, on the Struggles of His Diabetes Patients (extended video interview part 1)

Soft Spot Health Care -- A U.S.-European Dialogue with Dr. Frank Schwartz, Ohio University (extended video interview part 2)

Counting Carbs for the First Time – Karen Bailey, OU Dietician, Helps Obese Diabetics Lose Weight (audio slide show with extended interview)

Info box: Where Does the BMI Come From?
Info box: What Is Food Insecurity?
Info box: How Much Food Is Enough?
Info box: What Is Diabetes?