Understand Food Insecurity

Food Insecurity Research

Research is integral to better understanding the causes and effects of food insecurity. While additional research continues to emerge, visit this blog post for a non-exhaustive list of notable articles that provide a gentle introduction to food insecurity research. These have been recommended by the Technical Advisory Group at Feeding America®.

Further research which has been submitted to this site and related resources can be found here.

How is Feeding America working to understand food insecurity?

Below are a sample of studies conducted by or for Feeding America that help us further understand the connection between food insecurity and health. For complete information about Feeding America research, visit feedingamerica.org.


Studies:

Bringing Teens to the Table: Teens and Food Insecurity in America

In this study, Feeding America and the Urban Institute partner to explore the experiences, coping strategies and viewpoints of teenagers dealing with food insecurity in 10 communities across the U.S.


Baby Boomers & Beyond: Facing Hunger After Fifty

This report highlights the circumstances of adults age 50 and older who receive food assistance through the Feeding America network. Building on previous research, this study expands its scope to include pre-seniors between the ages of 50 and 64 who may be particularly at risk as they are not yet of retirement age and thus ineligible for federal programs like Medicare and Social Security.


Hunger in America 2014

Hunger in America is a series of quadrennial studies that provide comprehensive demographic profiles of people seeking food assistance through the Feeding America network and other programs, as well as an in-depth analysis of the food pantries and meal programs within the Feeding America network. Hunger in America 2014 is the most comprehensive study undertaken as it includes, for the first time, questions regarding health and select nutrition-related diseases.


In Short Supply: American Families Struggle to Secure Everyday Essentials

In Short Supply is a study demonstrating the struggle of many low-income families in the U.S. to afford basic, non-food household items. Families report using a variety of coping strategies when they are unable to afford personal and household care items. Some of these strategies, such as altering eating habits and delaying other healthy habits to afford non-food items, raise concerns about potential risks to the health and well-being of many families with children.


The State of Senior Hunger in America

The State of Senior Hunger in America report series documents the prevalence of food insecurity among the senior population age 60 and older in the United States. It examines the demographics and characteristics of seniors who lack access to enough nutritious food and identifies geographic variation in food insecurity among seniors, providing rates for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A separate report, produced periodically, explores health implications for seniors who are food insecure.