There are various mechanisms that help in explaining how food insecurity affects the health of individuals. Some of the examples include, Diabetes mellitus, COVID-19 pandemic, physical and emotional wellbeing, and mental wellbeing. Moreover, the effects of food insecurity are also dependent on the individual’s socio-economic status and the type of social and economic structures he or she lives in.
Physical health
In the United States, about 11.8% of households were food insecure in 2017. This means they do not have access to sufficient food for a healthy lifestyle.
Several studies have found a link between food insecurity and physical health. However, a lot of these studies have not tested whether the connection is causal. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association analyzed data from 27,000 adults from 1999 to 2014. They found that those who were food insecure had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Another study examined the link between food insecurity and physical activity. This research used econometric methods to reduce endogeneity bias, allowing researchers to better estimate the impact of food insecurity.
Mental health
It’s been proven that food insecurity negatively affects physical and mental health. Food insecurity causes people to become obese and eat less nutritious foods, which in turn increases stress, anxiety, and depression.
In a study, researchers found that individuals living in severely food-insecure households had seven times the likelihood of reporting moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. These results are robust across racial groups and age groups. However, older adults were at higher risk.
For example, individuals with COVID-19 have a higher risk of severe anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, people who have experienced pandemic-related job loss are at a greater risk of depression.
Researchers have also shown that poor dietary options can lead to paradoxical overweight people. This is due to the fact that they have a hard time satisfying their dietary needs and are forced to use less acceptable methods to satisfy them. A feeling of guilt and shame may be a result of this.
Social and emotional wellbeing
Food insecurity affects individuals’ physical and emotional well-being across the lifespan. It is a global health concern. Studies have shown that food insecurity is related to poorer mental health.
Food insecurity is a social phenomenon that results from a lack of access to affordable and nutritionally complete food. People who are severely food insecure have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress than those who are food secure. Despite the prevalence of food insecurity, researchers still do not know exactly how it impacts individuals’ mental health.
One way to understand the impact of food insecurity is to look at the various groups affected by the issue. Some studies have looked at adults while others have explored the effects of food insecurity on children.
Diabetes mellitus
Food insecurity is associated with diabetes mellitus. In particular, it is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms of food insecurity are not always well articulated. Therefore, it is important to know what are the current theories and research on the association between food insecurity and diabetes mellitus.
Food insecurity is the lack of access to nutritious food. It is caused by geographic, sociodemographic, and systemic factors. For example, housing affordability and poverty are important systemic causes of food insecurity.
A study found that food insecurity is associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. This relationship remained after controlling for other risk factors.
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health of millions of people across the country and around the world. Its impact is disproportionately high on minority groups and low-income populations, as well as other high-need populations. Despite its devastating impact, the pandemic has brought the healthcare industry together to share insights about how to prevent, reduce, and better manage the virus.
During the first part of the pandemic, countries increased their use of reusable personal protective equipment (PPE), N95 masks, and other innovative solutions to combat the disease. These solutions were designed to address the limited supply of standard PPE. During the second portion of the pandemic, the threat from COVID-19 continued to intensify, forcing countries to re-evaluate the standard of care and the supplies used.
Mechanisms by which food insecurity adversely affects health
In the United States, food insecurity is the leading health issue, and is linked to a range of negative health outcomes. Having a better understanding of the mechanisms by which food insecurity can influence health is important for policy makers, health care professionals, and program administrators.
Food insecurity is a complex issue that has a multitude of causes and effects. It can result from a lack of nutritious foods, inadequate food intake, and irregular eating patterns.
Research shows that poor food intake is a major factor in causing chronic diseases. For instance, malnutrition increases the risk of anemia and tooth decay. Moreover, poor nutrition increases the risk of birth defects and infections.
