Nutrition
Spotlight on Child Health and Nutrition
Childhood food insecurity caused by inadequate access to healthy food has increased the prevalence of chronic health conditions among Black, Latino, Native American individuals, and a subset of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) children.
Children who don’t have enough to eat are more likely to face poverty as an adult, developmental issues, mental health problems, and chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions.
Hunger Hurts Our Health
For example, for food-insecure adults living with diabetes, the choice between food and controlling the disease can even lead to complications like kidney disease, eye disease, and nerve damage.
- Food insecurity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.
- 58% of households served by the national Feeding America network have a member with high blood pressure and more than one-third have a member with diabetes.
- Children at risk of hunger are more likely to be in poor health and struggle in school.