Food Insecurity and Hunger in the United States

Posted by on July 14, 2006

[posted to the PA Nutrition Education Network listserv]

In the March issue, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association published a revision on its position paper on Food Insecurity and Hunger in the United States. The position paper reviews the relationship between food insecurity and nutrition, its preventable threat to the health of our society, and immediate and long-range interventions. Please feel free to discuss the paper over the listserv.

Abstract
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that systematic and sustained action is needed to bring an end to domestic food insecurity and hunger and to achieve food and nutrition security for all in the United States. The Association believes that immediate and long-range interventions are needed, including adequate funding for and increased utilization of food and nutrition assistance programs, the inclusion of food and nutrition education in all programs providing food and nutrition assistance, and innovative programs to promote and support the economic self-sufficiency of individuals and families, to end food insecurity and hunger in the United States. Food insecurity continues to exist in the United States, with over 38 million people experiencing it sometime in 2004. Negative nutritional and nonnutritional outcomes have been associated with food insecurity in adults, adolescents, and children, including poor dietary intake and nutritional status, poor health, increased risk for the development of chronic diseases, poor psychological and cognitive functioning, and substandard academic achievement. Dietetics professionals can play a key role in ending food insecurity and hunger and are uniquely positioned to make valuable contributions through provision of comprehensive food and nutrition education, competent and collaborative practice, innovative research related to accessing a safe and secure food supply, and advocacy efforts at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

View the Position Paper and obtain a free PDF-version at the American Dietetic Association?s website:

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_adar1202_ENU_HTML.htm