Report: Vulnerable Populations Disproportionately Affected by Food Security, Despite Public Programs
Targeted News Service |
Vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, and low-income households are disproportionately affected by food security, despite the extensive private and public food safety net in
Under Section 743 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76),
The report (http://www.rti.org/pubs/full_hunger_report_final_07-24-14.pdf) developed by
"Our review of this body of research strongly suggests that food insecurity remains a substantial and intractable problem in
The
To produce the report, RTI conducted a comprehensive literature review and environmental scan of research on food insecurity from 2008 to the present time. The report examines key determinants, consequences and responses to food insecurity, while establishing a framework to guide the development of policy and programming recommendations.
Twenty percent of U.S. households with children (7.8 million households) experienced food insecurity in 2012; in half of those households, only adults were considered food insecure because adults often shield children from food insecurity. In the other half (3.9 million households), both children and adults were food insecure.
According to the report, food insecurity has broad social consequences for children, adults, and senior adults. For children, experiencing food insecurity can result in near-term developmental delays and poor health outcomes, longer-term educational setbacks, and negative impacts on the U.S. economy when educationally unprepared children become unprepared members of the labor force.
For adults, experiencing food insecurity can result in poor health status, leading to illness and development of chronic diseases, and can contribute to mental health issues such as depression. Adults experiencing food insecurity may also be less prepared for a competitive workforce because of diminished development of human capital, lowered productivity and more sick days.
Seniors experiencing food insecurity may have accelerated declines in health and cognitive function and increases in chronic disease development. Poor health status can increase health care usage (and thus, potentially increase costs to
"Food insecurity imposes both direct costs such as food assistance programs and health care, and indirect costs such as worker absenteeism, on society. Thus, food insecurity impacts not only those who are at-risk, but the nation as a whole," Beaulieu said. "Hunger impacts productivity, public education and health care costs." The report also includes potential strategies to reduce and prevent food insecurity, including maintaining and strengthening federal food and nutrition assistance programs, improving economic security through lower-middle income employment, and improving the affordability of housing and health insurance.
Throughout the next year and a half, RTI will support the bipartisan
TNS 24HariRad-140725-30FurigayJane-4807976 30FurigayJane
Copyright: | (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |
Wordcount: | 701 |
IRI’S Sam Lahood Testifies on Impact of Egypt’s Conviction of NGO Workers; Says Conviction Should Not Be Recognized Under U.S. Law
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News