Health Outcomes of Food Insecurity Sample Clauses

Health Outcomes of Food Insecurity. Over the last few decades, there has been a steep rise in obesity and obesity-related disorders among the nutritionally vulnerable.15 According to the USDA, this has been propagated due to not only the increase in affordability and availability of low-nutrient dense foods, but also the decrease in availability of low-cost fresh produce, lean meats, and whole grain-rich foods.13 Food insecurity is associated with a host of negative health outcomes throughout the course of life: obesity, psychological suffering, sociofamilial disturbances, loss of bone mass in young 1 Summary characteristics of food insecure households can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. males, and sociobehavioral development in children.16-24 Additionally, Xxxxx and Xxxxxx (2011), highlight the considerations that must be taken into account for food insecure women. Because women have been historically disadvantaged in society and carry the role of child bearers and caregivers, the implications of food insecurity on women are of special concern.25 In the case of women, food insecurity is associated with obesity, anxiety, and depression, along with risky sexual behavior (low or variable condom use, transactional sex), poor coping strategies, such as withdrawing children from school, decrease intake of certain foods, selling assets to purchase food, and negative pregnancy outcomes. These very real and negative responses to food insecurity can have lasting impacts on health, such as acquiring HIV and other diseases, discontinuing school and education, and loss of economic power.25 As previously mentioned, food security is multifaceted and when women have access to the same economic, educational, and societal opportunities as men, such as access to land, financial self-sufficiency, and self-empowerment, then it has been seen in practical experience that women can change their food security status.25