Addressing Food Insecurity in Vulnerable Populations

Food insecurity affects people of all ages, in every area in which nurses work or volunteer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes food insecurity as the lack of "consistent, dependable access to adequate food for active, healthy living." The health effects of food insecurity include, but are not limited to, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, low birth weight, depression, and anxiety. Food insecurity is associated with single parenthood, low socioeconomic status, having three or more children, having low educational attainment, being a member of a racial or ethnic minority, renting a home, living in a city, and having a disabled household member. Veterans and military families; college students; members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; and immigrants have also been identified as at elevated risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and AARP have called for innovative programs and universal screening tools to identify those who are experiencing or are at risk for food insecurity and connect them to available resources. In addition to screening patients for food insecurity and intervening on their behalf, nurses play a vital role in advocating for food-insecure families and supporting community involvement.