Food Insecurity and Health

Lynne Giroux, RDPublic Health Nutritionist

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

Food security exists when...

“all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations

(Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014, p. 4)

Household food insecurity in Canada

(Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014, p. 2)

Household food insecurity by province & territory

(Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014, p. 9)

Household food insecurity in Ontario

Determinants of Food Insecurity: Income

• Having an income below the Low Income Measure (29.0% are food insecure).

Unpublished analysis of 2011 Canadian Community Health Survey data, as cited in PROOF. Retrieved from: http://nutritionalsciences.lamp.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/

Determinants of Food Insecurity

Sources of income– Food insecurity affected 69.5% of Canadian households reliant on

social assistance (i.e., welfare and disability support programs).– 58.3% (62.2% Canada) of food insecure households were reliant on

wages and salaries.

Housing– Renting rather than owning one’s home (26.1% were food insecure

vs. 6.4% of homeowners) (Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014).

Education– Less than secondary (21% food insecure)– Completed a Bachelor’s degree or higher (6.3%) (Tarasuk, Mitchell, &

Dachner, 2014).

Determinants of Food Insecurity: Household Composition

(Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014, p. 9)

Chronic Diseases: A Public Health Priority

• Most significant cause of death (63%) worldwide1 [1].• Chronic diseases increase income inequities, deplete household

wealth, increase health spending and lower labour productivity [2].• Chronic diseases cause premature deaths under age 60: 13% in

high income countries like Canada [1].• Chronic disease rates are increasing at 14% each year [3].• 3 out of 5 Canadians older than 20 have a chronic disease; and• 4 out of 5 are at risk [3].

[1] World Health Organization 1Except in sub-Saharan Africa

[2] World Bank, 2011

[3] Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, using POHEM Model, Statistics Canada.

Impact of Food Insecurity on Health

Poverty

PoorHealth

Food Insecurity

Impact of Food Insecurity on Health

Chronic conditions such as… [1]• diabetes• heart disease• hypertension• depression• fibromyalgia

Household food insecurity also affects people’s ability to manage chronic health problems [1].

[1] 5-10 as cited in Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014.

Impact of Food Insecurity on Health• mental health

– feelings of anxiety (anxiety disorders), depression, distress, stress, and suicidal tendencies

– social isolation and alienation– eating disorders

• well-being/social health– impaired ability to work and learn

• physical health• oral health

Source: 5-10 as cited in Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014; Dietitians of Canada, 2012

Causal evidence that children and youth who experienced hunger, especially repeated hunger [1]:

- were more likely to have poorer health, and - were more likely than others to have developed several chronic

health conditions, including asthma.

Impact of Food Insecurity on Health: Children

[1] Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014.

Impact of severe food insecurity• The prevalence of severe food insecurity in Ontario (2.7%) is above the

national prevalence (2.6%).• In 2012, 29.4% of households who reported their main source of income

as social assistance were severely food insecure.

(Tarasuk, Mitchell, & Dachner, 2014, p. 14)

Impact of Food Insecurity on Nutrition

Food Insecurity is associated with...• A less varied diet [1],• A lower intake of fruits and vegetables [1],• A lower intake of milk and alternatives [3],

[1] Gorton, Bullen, and Mhurchu, as cited in Conference Board of Canada, 2015.

[2] Cummins and Macintyre, as cited in Conference Board of Canada, 2015.

[3] Kirkpatrick and Tarasuk, 2008, as cited in PROOF. Retrieved from: http://nutritionalsciences.lamp.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/

Impact of Food Insecurity on Nutrition

Food Insecurity is associated with...• Malnutrition [1]• An increased consumption of processed foods (i.e., higher intakes of sodium, trans fat, and sugar) [2]

• An increased risk of inadequate nutrient intakes [1,3]

[1] Gorton, Bullen, and Mhurchu, as cited in Conference Board of Canada, 2015.

[2] Cummins and Macintyre, as cited in Conference Board of Canada, 2015.

[3] Kirkpatrick and Tarasuk, 2008, as cited in PROOF. Retrieved from: http://nutritionalsciences.lamp.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/

EOHU

• Nutritious Food Basket• SDOH PHN – partnerships

to address income and poverty

• ATF collaborative member/partner

• GFB partnerships• Directory of Local Food

Programs and Services

Nutritious Food Basket Data

• Family of four, EOHU, 2014: $195.85• Family of four, EOHU, 2013: $186.66• Family of four, EOHU, 2012: $190.38 • Family of four, EOHU, 2011: $181.66• Family of four, EOHU, 2010: $173.19• Family of four, EOHU, 2009: $171.02

Household food insecurity in the Eastern Ontario Region

This has been a presentation by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

©EOHU. All rights reserved.