Screening for food insecurity: Short-term alleviation and long-term prevention

Food insecurity, defined by the US Department of Agriculture as “lack of consistent access to enough healthy food for an active healthy life,” is related to many adverse physical and mental health outcomes in adults and children. Twenty years of food insecurity research shows us that this is often a hidden condition that lacks physical or laboratory signs, is associated with tremendous social stigma and personal shame, and will not be revealed unless asked about directly.