This document summarizes food insecurity and hunger in the United States and Philadelphia. It finds that 14% of Americans and 21% of American children experience food insecurity. Rates are even higher for young children and in Philadelphia. Food insecurity is associated with negative health, social, and academic impacts on children. Federal assistance programs help address the problem but many vulnerable families still suffer. The document calls for policy solutions like SNAP and WIC to prevent child hunger and promote health and development.
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Food Insecurity & Hunger in Philadelphia and U.S.
1. Food Insecurity & Hunger
in Philadelphia and U.S.
Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPHMariana Chilton, PhD, MPH
High Impact PhilanthropyHigh Impact Philanthropy
Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable FamiliesAddressing the Needs of Vulnerable Families
November 8, 2010November 8, 2010
2. OverviewOverview
Food Insecurity in USFood Insecurity in US
Hunger in PhiladelphiaHunger in Philadelphia
Policy Relevant SciencePolicy Relevant Science
Witnesses to HungerWitnesses to Hunger
Solutions to PovertySolutions to Poverty
3. Food Insecurity DefinitionFood Insecurity Definition
Lack of access to enough foodLack of access to enough food
for an active and healthy lifefor an active and healthy life
4. Rates of Food InsecurityRates of Food Insecurity
General populationGeneral population
49 Million (14%)49 Million (14%)
Children (under age 18)Children (under age 18)
17 Million (21%)17 Million (21%)
Young Children (under 6)Young Children (under 6)
9 Million (24.9%)9 Million (24.9%)
5.
6. Health & Social ImpactsHealth & Social Impacts
of Food Insecurityof Food Insecurity
Food Insecure children suffer more psychosocial and
behavioral problems
Aggression, hyperactivity, anxiety
Greater need for mental health services
Food Insecure children have more trouble with learning
and academic performance
Food Insecure children suffer more health problems
compared to food secure children
Poor development
Stomach aches, head aches, colds, ear infections
High hospitalization rates
8. US Census: Living in PovertyUS Census: Living in Poverty
44,000 Children Under Age 644,000 Children Under Age 6
9. Household Food Insecurity forHousehold Food Insecurity for
Young children in PhiladelphiaYoung children in Philadelphia
11.2
14.5
15.8
19.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
2006 2007 2008 2009
% Prevalence
HH w/ Youung Children
Philadelphia HH with Children < 3
10. Informing Evidence-Based Policy Decisions to
Prevent Child Hunger
State Costs of Growing Up Poor in the U.S.
42,000 children & families42,000 children & families
(~4,500 in Philadelphia)(~4,500 in Philadelphia)
Drexel University
St. Christopher’s
Hospital
11. Federal Assistance Programs--Federal Assistance Programs--
monitored bymonitored by
Food Stamps (SNAP)Food Stamps (SNAP)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
MedicaidMedicaid
Federal Housing SubsidiesFederal Housing Subsidies
Energy AssistanceEnergy Assistance
HealthHealth
Food InsecurityFood Insecurity
HospitalizationsHospitalizations
Child WellbeingChild Wellbeing
Maternal DepressionMaternal Depression
Child GrowthChild Growth
Child DevelopmentChild Development
12. Food Insecurity & Health OutcomesFood Insecurity & Health Outcomes
Adjusted Odds Ratios*Adjusted Odds Ratios*
1 1 1 1
1.74
1.22
2.79
1.73
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Fair/Poor Child
Health
Hospitalizations Maternal
Depressive
Symptoms
Child Development
Concerns
AOR
Food secure
Food Insecure
* All differences p value < .0001
Controlled for site, race, child age, caregiver age, marital status,
education, birth weight, child breastfed
73% Increased risk for
developmental concerns
13. Developmental effects of Food InsecurityDevelopmental effects of Food Insecurity
happenhappen beforebefore schoolschool
15. Hardship and Health forHardship and Health for
Children < 3Children < 3April 12, 2010
16. Evidence for Policy Solutions
Food Stamps (SNAP)Food Stamps (SNAP)
improve child health and prevent foodimprove child health and prevent food
insecurityinsecurity
WICWIC
protects against underweight, and promotesprotects against underweight, and promotes
child health and developmentchild health and development
Energy AssistanceEnergy Assistance
protects against food insecurity and poor childprotects against food insecurity and poor child
healthhealth
Housing subsidiesHousing subsidies
protect against underweight and promote childprotect against underweight and promote child
health and developmenthealth and development
Panel explained that the FI measure created confusion (with terminology of with/without hunger). They recommended the USDA avoid the term hunger altogether.
This new terminology will be explained in the upcoming USDA release of the 2005 food insecurity data. It will be released next week. Apparently, the new categories of food security, under the umbrella of food insecurity will not create confusion. Notice the disappearance of the term “HUNGER” altogether.
On a positive note, now there is a recognition of “marginally food insecure.” This new category captures the people who had answered perhaps one or two of the questions affirmatively on the food insecurity scale., This is a positive change, because food insecurity researchers have found that there are significant associations at this “mild” level of food insecurity with poor health and other wellbeing indicators. This marginality was not recognized in the previous categories.