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Food insecurity: A key determinant of health

M. Hawkins, A. Panzera
Arch Psychiatr Nurs

Food insecurity, broadly defined as a lack of access to sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food (USDA, 2019), is a social and economic condition with health consequences across the lifespan including poor dietary intake, physical health, and increased risk for chronic diseases and mental health conditions (Ferrer et al., 2019, Liu et al., 2014; World Health Organization and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2014). Risk factors for many mental health conditions are significantly correlated with adverse social conditions (World Health Organization and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2014). Mental illness is more prevalent among individuals who experience food insecurity; furthermore, mental health conditions and food insecurity co-occur disproportionately among more women than men (Martin et al., 2016).

Hawkins M, Panzera A. Food insecurity: A key determinant of health. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.10.011

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Publication year
Resource type
Commentaries & Blogs
Social Determinant of Health
Food/Hunger