food insecurity and public health

Question 1

nutrition security

Answer 1

exists when all people at all times consume food of sufficient quantity and quality in terms of variety, diversity, nutrient content and safety to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, coupled with a sanitary environment, adequate health, education and care

Question 2

food bank statistics

Answer 2

• Children are disproportionate recipients of charity food
• Foodbank usage rose alongside cuts to social security benefit
• Individuals and households impacted by recent welfare reforms are more likely to receive food bank parcels
• In-work poverty, disability, and unemployment rates all associated with foodbank use
• A majority of food insecure households do not use foodbanks– in part due to embarrassment, or a reluctance to accept charity

Question 3

what is the public health approach to food insecurity

Answer 3

primary prevention: education, employment, income, physical & mental health
Secondary prevention: safety net benefits, free school meals, community food hubs, friends/family
Tertiary prevention: foodbanks, vouchers, free school meals

Question 4

food insecurity and health impacts

Answer 4

• Mental health – depression, anxiety, stress, suicide ideation
• Physical health – weight, daily activities in older people, variety of negative health outcomes
• Development – academic, social and emotional development in children
• Health care costs – healthcare utilization levels, total costs, hospital admissions

Question 5

odds of food insecurity

Answer 5

• Full time students versus non-students
• Single parent households versus households without children
• Low versus high levels of education
• Male compared to female
• Ethnicity as mixed or White Other versus White British

Question 6

availability of food

Answer 6

• Healthy food has been shown to be 3x as expensive as unhealthy food
• Eatwell Plate diet –unaffordable for many families with estimates of it requiring up to 42% of post-housing budget to supply.
• Food consumed in the UK is the cheapest across all Western Europe.
• Risk of uneaten food = wasted money