Food insecurity: a social determinant of health
Food insecurity, as defined by PROOF (University of Toronto’s Food Insecurity Policy Research), is the inadequate or insecure access to food as the result of financial barriers. This definition highlights that food insecurity is a marker of material deprivation (lack of basic material needs).
Previously, food insecurity was considered an issue of accessibility, when individuals were unable to find or access food because of limited or no availability. The most recent definition released by PROOF describes food insecurity as an income issue, shifting away from the understanding that food insecurity is experienced due to limited or no access to food.
Levels of food insecurity
There are three different levels of food insecurity, ranging from marginal to severe.
Marginal food insecurity: Worrying about running out of food and/or limited food selection due to a lack of money for food.
Moderate food insecurity: Compromising quality and/or quantity of food due to a lack of money for food.
Severe food insecurity: Missing meals, reduced food intake and, at the most extreme, going day(s) without food.
When talking about food insecurity, the term household food insecurity (HFI) is often used, where rates of food insecurity are discussed based on households, not individuals.
Food insecurity and health
Food insecurity is considered to be a determinant of health due to a strong connection and potential to impact mental and physical health outcomes. Food insecurity not only impacts one’s lifestyle and diet, but also one’s risk of diseases and other negative health outcomes. PROOF’s 2022 Household Food Insecurity report indicates that adults living in food-insecure households are more likely to also experience infectious diseases, poor oral health, injury, and non-communicable diseases. These include heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, back problems, chronic pain, depression and anxiety disorders. Adults experiencing food-insecurity are also more likely to be diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions. As the severity of food insecurity increases (from marginal to severe), so do the negative health implications. Exposure to food insecurity is also associated with premature death, where food insecure individuals die 9 years earlier than those who are food secure.
Children living in food-insecure households are more likely to develop depression and suicidal thoughts in adolescence and adulthood.
The links between food insecurity and its impacts on health demonstrate that food insecurity is a social determinant of health and a significant contributor to poor health outcomes. One’s income, source of income, housing, education and race are some of the countless factors that intersect and play a role in food security status.
Food insecurity in Hastings Prince Edward Counties
Household food insecurity data is collected through the Canadian Income Survey – Food security module, providing annual estimates of food insecurity prevalence for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. To learn more about provincial prevalence of food insecurity, visit Public Health Ontario’s Food Insecurity Snapshot.
Food insecurity is higher in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties than the provincial average. The household food insecurity prevalence – 2 year combined (2021-2022) average for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties is 23.0%, compared to the provincial estimate of 17.4%.
The prevalence of food insecurity is a valuable estimate, as it helps us understand the severity of the issue in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. Being aware of the prevalence of food insecurity helps us understand the impacts of food insecurity on community health, as exposure results to long term consequences to one’s health and wellbeing.
The Real Cost of Eating Well in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties 2023 Report summarizes the results of the Nutritious Food Basket process. This process measures the cost of basic healthy eating according to current nutrition recommendations and average Canadian food purchasing patterns. Food costing is used to monitor both affordability and accessibility of foods by relating the cost of the Nutritious Food Basket to individual and household incomes.
Public health’s role
- Continued monitoring and reporting of food affordability for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
- Advocating for continued local and provincial data collection to monitor household food insecurity.
- Promoting and advocating for effective public policy to increase incomes and social assistance to address food insecurity.
- Supporting and collaborating with local groups and community organizations to increase capacity for change through policy and advocacy.
- Engaging with stakeholders to increase knowledge and advocacy efforts in the region.
- Providing community members with information on available programming and resources in the region.
Further reading and community resources
- PROOF: Food Insecurity Policy Research
- CDC Quinte
- We All Deserve to Eat – The CHAMPS Network
- No Money for Food is … Cent$less
- Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Position Statement on Responses to Food Insecurity
- Health Equity – HPEPH
- Income and Income Distribution – HPEPH
- Finding Food – HPEPH
References
Li T, Fafard St-Germain AA, Tarasuk V. (2023) Household food insecurity in Canada, 2022. Toronto: Research to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF). Retrieved from https://proof.utoronto.ca/
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Technical notes: household food insecurity snapshot [Internet]. Toronto, ON: King’s Printer for Ontario; c2024 [cited 2024 Jan 12]. Available from: Public Health Ontario
