6th Annual Faith & Reason Symposium
Julie M. Moreschi, MS, RD, LDN
Dietetic Internship Director
Benedictine University
HUNGER
Prevalence & Consequences
Presentation is organized as
follows:
1
Structure of Presentation
Introduction – Definitions
Factors driving the food insecurity problem
Current State of food insecurity in the
United States
Health Consequences of Food Insecurity
How Can YOU Help?
Which of These Pictures Illustrates a Person Who Is Hungry?
Hunger is a term which has three
meanings (Oxford English Dictionary
1971)
2
What is Hunger?
The uneasy or painful sensation
caused by want of food; craving
appetite. Also the exhausted condition
caused by want of food.
The want or scarcity of food in a
country
A strong desire or craving
Source: http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
In 2011, 50.1 million Americans lived in
food insecure households, 33.5 million
adults and 16.7 million children.
3
What is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity is limited or
uncertain availability of nutritionally
adequate and safe foods or limited or
uncertain ability to acquire acceptable
foods in socially acceptable ways
The continuum of food security is
divided into four ranges, characterized
as follows:
High food
Marginal food
Low food
Very low food
Source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-theus/measurement.aspx
Food insecurity is caused by a
variety of factors:
4
What Are the Causes of
Food Insecurity?
Employment instability and the lack
of an adequate minimum wage
Uncertainties of Daily Life
Problems with Access and
Distribution
Geography of Poverty
Source: http://www.npr.org/2005/11/22/5021812/q-a-the-causes-behind-hunger-in-america
50.1 million Americans lived in food
insecure households, 33.5 million adults
and 16.7 million children.
5
Prevalence of Food Insecurity
in the United States
14.9 percent of households (17.9
million households) were food insecure.
5.7 percent of households (6.8 million
households) experienced very low food
security.
Food insecurity exists in every county in
America, ranging from a low of 5 percent
in Steele County, ND to a high of 37
percent in Holmes County, MS
Source: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-povertystatistics.aspx
Households with children reported food
insecurity at a significantly higher rate
than those without children, 20.6 percent
compared to 12.2percent.
6
Prevalence of Food Insecurity
in the United States
Households that had higher rates of
food insecurity than the national average
included
Households with children headed
by single women (36.8 percent)
Single men (24.9 percent),
Black non-Hispanic households
(25.1 percent)
Hispanic households (26.2 percent).
Source: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-povertystatistics.aspx
Map The Meal Gap
7
Prevalence of Food Insecurity
in the United States
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-inamerica/hunger-studies/map-the-mealgap.aspx
An adult that is food insecure can suffer
from several health consequences
including:
Inability to have a fully active life
8
Health Consequences of Food
Insecurity
Lower scores on physical and mental health
exams
Increased risk of developing Diabetes
Increased risk of some cardiovascular
diseases
Higher levels of aggression and anxiety
Slower developing social skills
Source: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-ofhunger/physical-and-mental-health.aspx
An child that is food insecure can suffer
from several health consequences
including:
9
Health Consequences of Food
Insecurity
Low Birth Weight
delayed development, poorer attachment,
and learning difficulties in the first two years
of life
More frequent hospital visits
Higher rates of asthma and anemia
Dental problems
Poorer physical quality of life which may
reduce participation in social and athletic
activities
Increased behavior problems such as
bullying, fighting, hyperactivity, aggression,
anxiety, and moodiness
Source: http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/childdevelopment.aspx
Donate
Volunteer
10
What Can You Do?
Support Retention of Food Program
Funding
Organize a Food Drive
For More Information…
Action Against Hunger http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/
Bread for the World Institute http://www.bread.org/
Feeding America http://feedingamerica.org/
Feed the Future http://feedthefuture.gov/
Initiative Save Food http://www.save-food.org/
Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry http://www.loaves-fishes.org/
No Kid Hungry http://www.nokidhungry.org/?gclid=CM6M38fFvbYCFZE-Mgod8zMAWA
Northern Illinois Food Bank http://solvehungertoday.org/
Nutrition.gov (Links to a variety of food insecurity resources) http://www.nutrition.gov/food-assistanceprograms/hunger-and-food-insecurity
The Role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Improving the Health and Well-Being of Americans
by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) http://frac.org/pdf/snap_and_public_health_2013.pdf
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service
http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us.aspx
USDA Food Access Research Atlas http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas.aspx
World Hunger Notes http://www.worldhunger.org/
Why Hunger Blog http://blog.whyhunger.org/