Addressing Food Insecurity in the North Central Region

Transcription

1 Addressing Food Insecurity in the North Central Region Craig Gundersen University of Illinois Soybean Industry Endowed Professor of Agricultural Strategy, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics

2 Reasons for Looking at Food Insecurity Serious consequences in own right negative health outcomes Not completely characterized by income Policy a central goal of USDA is to alleviate food insecurity

3 Defining Food Insecurity A household s food insecurity status is based on responses to 18 questions in the Core Food Security Module (CFSM) Examples of questions: I worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more Did you or the other adults in your household ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn t enough money for food Were you ever hungry but did not eat because you couldn t afford enough food Did a child in the household ever not eat for a full day because you couldn t afford enough food Categories food insecure if have 3 or more affirmative responses very low food security among children if have 5 or more affirmative responses to child-specific questions

4

5

6

7 Health Consequences Associated with Food Insecurity Children birth defects anemia lower nutrient intakes cognitive problems aggression and anxiety being hospitalized being in poorer general health having asthma behavioral problems depression worse oral health Adults lower nutrient intakes mental health problems diabetes hypertension hyperlipidemia poor outcomes on health exams being in poor or fair health poor sleep outcomes depression having limitations in activities of daily living

8 Food Insecurity and Health Care Costs What is the impact of food insecurity on health care costs? Does this differ by severity of food insecurity? Data from Canada matched administrative records from Ontario health care system with food security survey information 67,033 observations between 18 and 64 difficult to do for U.S. selection issue lack of health care information to be matched with survey data Results differences in health care costs when compared to individuals in fully food secure households marginally food insecure: 23% higher moderate food insecure: 49% higher severely food insecure: 121% higher

9 Food Insecurity and Mortality What is the impact of food insecurity on mortality? Does this differ by severity of food insecurity? Data from Canada matched administrative records from Ontario health care system with food security survey information 90,368 observations for over age 18 difficult to do for U.S. lack of mortality information that can be merged with survey data Results differences in probability of mortality when compared to individuals in fully food secure households marginally food insecure: 28% higher moderate food insecure: 49% higher severely food insecure: 160% higher

10 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Primary goal is to alleviate hunger USDA issues food stamps to families (via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards) which can be used in retail food outlets Benefit levels function of income and family size maximum benefit level is $688 for a family of four average benefit level is about $300 for a family of four Size of program serves almost 45 million persons total cost is about $80 billion per year Eligibility criteria gross income test net income test asset test

11 Future Research Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) established Priorities and Solutions Working Group to address critical needs that can be addressed by agricultural economists, in conjunction with other disciplines 8 areas established Examples of key questions on food insecurity How is food insecurity distributed within a household? How does the food distribution system influence food insecurity? What types of coping mechanisms do low-income food secure families utilize, and what are the effects of these mechanisms? Why are the food insecurity rates of American Indians so high? How can SNAP more effectively reduce food insecurity? What are the effects of private charitable food assistance programs on food insecurity? What is the causal relationship between food insecurity and health outcomes?