scholarly journals Interventions to address household food insecurity in high-income countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Loopstra
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
High Income ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Community Kitchens

Household food insecurity is a serious public health concern in high-income countries. Canada and the USA regularly monitor household food insecurity, while in other countries, such as the UK, it has been the rapid rise of food bank usage that has drawn increased attention to this longstanding, but largely overlooked, problem. This review evaluates evidence on interventions intended to reduce household food insecurity in high-income countries. Research on social protection interventions suggests both cash transfers and food subsidies (e.g. the US Supplement Nutrition and Assistance Programme) reduce household food insecurity. In contrast, research on community-level interventions, such as food banks and other food programmes, suggests limited impacts. Although food banks have become a common intervention for food insecurity in high-income countries, evidence suggests their reliance on donations of volunteer time and food make them inevitably limited in the assistance they are able to provide. The stigma people feel using food banks may also make them untenable. Alternatives to, or enhanced, food banks such as community shops or community kitchens, have become common, but evidence also suggests they may be limited in effectiveness if they do not reach people experiencing food insecurity. This review highlights the difficulty of trying to address household food insecurity with community-based food interventions when solutions likely lie upstream in social protection policies.

scholarly journals The Relation Between Household Food Insecurity and Children's Height in Canada and the United States: A Scoping Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1126-1137
Author(s):  
Andrée-Anne Fafard St-Germain ◽  
Arjumand Siddiqi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Income ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Optimal Linear ◽  
High Risk Populations ◽  
Families With Children

ABSTRACT Household food insecurity is a determinant of health and marker of material deprivation. Although research has shown that food insecurity is associated with numerous adverse health, developmental and nutritional outcomes among children in high-income countries, little is known about its impact on children's height, an important marker of nutritional status and physical development. We reviewed evidence on the relation between experience-based measures of food insecurity and the height of children aged 0–18 y in Canada and the United States. The search, conducted in Embase, Medline, CINAHL, ProQuest, Web of Science, and EconLit from the inception of the databases to October 2017, identified 811 records that were screened for relevance. A total of 8 peer-reviewed studies, 2 from Canada and 6 from the United States, met the inclusion criteria and were summarized. Five studies found no association between food insecurity and children's height. One study found that having taller children in the household predicted more severe food insecurity, whereas 2 studies found that more severe experiences of food insecurity were associated with shorter height among children from ethnic minority populations. These results suggest that household food insecurity may not be associated with height inequalities among children in Canada and the United States, except perhaps in certain high-risk populations. However, the few studies identified for review provide insufficient evidence to determine whether food insecurity is or is not associated with children's height in these countries. Given the importance of optimal linear growth for current and future well-being, it is critical to understand how different modifiable environmental circumstances relate to children's height to help establish priorities for intervention. Families with children are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, and more research explicitly designed to examine the association between household food insecurity and children's height in high-income countries is needed.

scholarly journals Impact of Welfare Benefit Sanctioning on Food Insecurity: a Dynamic Cross-Area Study of Food Bank Usage in the UK

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
RACHEL LOOPSTRA ◽  
JASMINE FLEDDERJOHANN ◽  
AARON REEVES ◽  
DAVID STUCKLER
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Unemployment Insurance ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Welfare Benefit ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSince 2009, the UK has witnessed marked increases in the rate of sanctions applied to unemployment insurance claimants, as part of a wider agenda of austerity and welfare reform. In 2013, over one million sanctions were applied, stopping benefit payments for a minimum of four weeks and potentially leaving people facing economic hardship and driving them to use food banks. Here we explore whether sanctioning is associated with food bank use by linking data from The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network with records on sanctioning rates across 259 local authorities in the UK. After accounting for local authority differences and time trends, the rate of adults fed by food banks rose by an additional 3.36 adults per 100,000 (95% CI: 1.71 to 5.01) as the rate of sanctioning increased by 10 per 100,000 adults. The availability of food distribution sites affected how tightly sanctioning and food bank usage were associated (p< 0.001); in areas with few distribution sites, rising sanctions led to smaller increases in food bank usage. In conclusion, sanctioning is closely linked with rising food bank usage, but the impact of sanctioning on household food insecurity is not fully reflected in available data.

scholarly journals Socio-economic, behavioural and environmental factors predicted body weights and household food insecurity scores in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 438-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Bhargava ◽  
Dean Jolliffe ◽  
Larry L. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Early Childhood Longitudinal Study ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
The Usa

Recent increases in obesity prevalence among children in developed countries are of policy concern. While significant positive associations between households' food insecurity status and body weights have been reported for adults, it is known from the energy physiology literature that energy requirements depend on BMR, anthropometric measures and physical activity. It is therefore important to model the bi-directional relationships between body weights and households' food insecurity scores especially for children that have evolving nutrient and energy requirements. The present paper estimated dynamic random effects models for children's body weights and BMI, and households' food insecurity scores using longitudinal data on 7635 children in the USA enrolled in 1st, 3rd and 5th grades (1999–2003) of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten. The main findings were, first, physical exercise and numbers of siblings were significantly (P < 0·05) negatively associated with body weights, while households' food insecurity score was not a significant predictor. Moreover, children's body weights were significantly lower in households with higher parental education and incomes; time spent watching television and in non-parental care were positively associated with weights. Second, models for households' food insecurity scores showed that poverty and respondents' poor emotional and physical health significantly increased food insecurity. Moreover, households with children who were taller and heavier for their ages faced significantly higher food insecurity levels. Overall, the results showed that household food insecurity was unlikely to exacerbate child obesity in the USA and it is important that children receive balanced school meals and perform higher physical activity.

Food Bank Usage Is a Poor Indicator of Food Insecurity: Insights from Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Loopstra ◽  
Valerie Tarasuk
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Access ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Banks ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Food Bank ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Representative Subset ◽  
Poor Indicator ◽  
Regular Measurement

This article reflects on the insights afforded by the regular measurement and monitoring of household food insecurity in Canada juxtaposed against information on food bank usage in the population. We show that the number and characteristics of people using food banks suggest that this population is a non-representative subset of the food insecure population. We also highlight how the number of people using food banks is insensitive to the level of household food insecurity in the population. Who goes to food banks is a function of the nature of food bank operations and the severity of food insecurity. Representative data on household food insecurity should be regularly collected and utilised to make policy recommendations for interventions to address the problem of insecure food access.

Household food insecurity and school readiness among preschool-aged children in the USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1469-1477
Author(s):  
Dylan B Jackson ◽  
Alexander Testa ◽  
Daniel C Semenza
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
School Readiness ◽  
Emotional Development ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Social Emotional Development ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Preschool Aged Children

AbstractObjective:The present study examines the association between mild and moderate-to-severe household food insecurity and school readiness among a nationally representative sample of preschool-aged children.Design:Cross-sectional data pertaining to household food availability as well as four domains of school readiness – early learning skills, self-regulation, social-emotional development and physical health & motor development – were employed.Setting:The USA.Participants:15 402 children aged 3–5 years from the 2016–2018 National Survey of Children’s Health.Results:Both mild and moderate-to-severe food insecurity are associated with an increase in needing support or being at-risk in each of the four school readiness domains, particularly Self-Regulation (IRR = 4·31; CI 2·68, 6·95) and Social-Emotional Development (IRR = 3·43; CI 2·16, 5·45). Furthermore, while nearly half of the children in food-secure households are on-track across all four school readiness domains (47·49 %), only one in four children experiencing moderate-to-severe household food insecurity is on-track across all domains (25·26 %).Conclusions:Household food insecurity is associated with reductions in school readiness among preschool-aged children.

scholarly journals Food variety consumption and household food insecurity coping strategies after the 2010 landslide disaster – the case of Uganda

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3197-3209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M Rukundo ◽  
Arne Oshaug ◽  
Bård A Andreassen ◽  
Joyce Kikafunda ◽  
Byaruhanga Rukooko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Variety ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Landslide Disaster

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the nutritional situation of the victims of the 2010 landslide disaster in Uganda, food varieties consumed and coping strategies were assessed.DesignCross-sectional. Food variety scores (FVS) were obtained as the total of food items eaten over the last week while an index was based on severity weighting of household food insecurity coping strategies. We included 545 affected and 533 control households.SettingVictims in the affected Bududa district in Eastern Uganda and those victims resettled in the Kiryandongo district, Western Uganda.ResultsAdjusted for covariates, in Bududa significantly higher mean FVS were observed among: affected than controls; farmers than others; and relief food recipients. Control households scored higher means (se) on severity of coping: 28·6 (1·3) v. 19·2 (1·2; P<0·01). In Kiryandongo, significantly higher FVS were observed among: control households; household heads educated above primary school; those with assets that complement food source; and recipients of relief food. Severity of coping was significantly higher among affected households and non-recipients of relief food. Affected households had a higher likelihood to skip a day without eating a household meal in Bududa (OR=2·31; 95 % CI 1·62, 3·29; P<0·01) and Kiryandongo (OR=1·77; 95 % CI 1·23, 2·57; P<0·01).ConclusionsWhereas FVS and severity of coping showed opposite trends in the two districts, resettlement into Kiryandongo led to severe coping experiences. Administrative measures that provide a combination of relief food, social protection and resettlement integration may offset undesirable coping strategies affecting diet.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity and Hunger in Rich Countries—It Is Time for Action against Inequality

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M Pollard ◽  
Sue Booth
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Social ◽  
Rich Countries

Household food insecurity is a serious public health concern in rich countries with developed economies closely associated with inequality. The prevalence of household food insecurity is relatively high in some developed countries, ranging from 8 to 20% of the population. Human rights approaches have the potential to address the structural causes, not just the symptoms of food insecurity. Despite most developed countries ratifying the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights over 40 years ago, food insecurity rates suggest current social protections are inadequate. The contemporary framing of the solution to food insecurity in developed countries is that of diverting food waste to the hungry to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals agenda (Goals 2 and 12.3). An estimated 60 million people or 7.2% of the population in high income countries used food banks in 2013. Although providing food assistance to those who are hungry is an important strategy, the current focus distracts attention away from the ineffectiveness of government policies in addressing the social determinants of food insecurity. Much of the action needed to improve household food security falls to actors outside the health sector. There is evidence of promising actions to address the social determinants of food insecurity in some developed countries. Learning from these, there is a strong case for government leadership, for action within and across government, and effective engagement with other sectors to deliver a coordinated, collaborative, and cooperative response to finding pathways out of food insecurity.

Adverse childhood experiences and household food insecurity among children aged 0–5 years in the USA

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Baiden ◽  
Catherine A LaBrenz ◽  
Shawndaya Thrasher ◽  
Gladys Asiedua-Baiden ◽  
Boniface Harerimana
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Objective: Although studies have examined the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and health and mental health outcomes, few studies have investigated the association between ACE and household food insecurity among children aged 0–5 years in the USA. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between ACE and household food insecurity among children aged 0–5 years. Design: The data used in this study came from the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression with household food insecurity as the outcome variable. Setting: United States. Participants: An analytic sample of 17 543 children aged 0–5 years (51·4% boys). Results: Of the 17 543 respondents, 83·7% experienced no childhood adversity. About one in twenty (4·8%) children experienced moderate-to-severe food insecurity. Controlling for other factors, children with one adverse childhood experience had 1·43 times the risk of mild food insecurity (95 % CI 1·25, 1·63) and 2·33 times the risk of moderate-to-severe food insecurity (95 % CI 1·84, 2·95). The risk of mild food insecurity among children with two or more ACE was 1·5 times higher (95 % CI 1·24, 1·81) and that of moderate-to-severe food insecurity was 3·96 times higher (95 % CI 3·01, 5·20), when compared with children with no childhood adversity. Conclusion: Given the critical period of development during the first few years of life, preventing ACE and food insecurity and early intervention in cases of adversity exposure is crucial to mitigate their negative impact on child development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document