Promoting Food Security for All Children

Abstract

Sixteen million US children (21%) live in households without consistent access to adequate food. After multiple risk factors are considered, children who live in households that are food insecure, even at the lowest levels, are likely to be sick more often, recover from illness more slowly, and be hospitalized more frequently. Lack of adequate healthy food can impair a child' s ability to concentrate and perform well in school and is linked to higher levels of behavioral and emotional problems from preschool through adolescence. Food insecurity can affect children in any community, not only traditionally underserved ones. Pediatricians can play a central role in screening and identifying children at risk for food insecurity and in connecting families with needed community resources. Pediatricians should also advocate for federal and local policies

The Role of Nutrition in Brain Development: The Golden Opportunity of the “First 1000 Days”

“…Thus, they are susceptible to poor parental food habits and can have food insecurity that causes a sacrifice of quality food for food quantity 58 . Food sources for nutrients that are important for normal early development (Table) can be found in the American Academy of Pedaitrics’ (AAP) Handbook on Nutrition 59 and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website 60 .…”

Diagnostic Accuracy of Two Food Insecurity Screeners Recommended for Use in Health Care Settings

“…18 As recommended by the AAP, we considered an affirmative response to either of the 2 questions on the AAP tool a positive screen for food insecurity. 12 …”

“…11 In 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that health care providers screen all households with children for food insecurity. 12 Studies in both ambulatory and hospital settings have shown that the majority of caregivers of children believe that it is appropriate for health care practitioners to address food insecurity. 4,13,14 Likewise, the majority of practitioners are willing to screen patients for food insecurity.…”

“…12 Guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also advocate a slightly adapted version of the HVS that keeps the same 3 HVS response categories but changes wording for consistency with other recommended screening items. 20 To our knowledge, the CMS adaptation has not been validated.…”

The Overlooked Burden of Food Insecurity among Asian Americans: Results from the California Health Interview Survey

“…Means to identify Asian American subgroups at risk of food insecurity at healthcare facilities remains imperative. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes the importance of a screening tool utilized during practice to identify children living in food insecure households; such as the Household Food Security Scale or the in-office 2-item screener [43]. A similar strategy can be utilized when screening adults, especially one tailored to Asian-specific languages.…”