Effects Of Food Insecurity On College Campuseses

Food insecurity is the “state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food,” according to the Oxford Dictionary. It is a widespread problem on college campuses across the nation. While food insecurity only impacts 14% of households, 48% of college students claim to be food insecure. This problem disproportionately impacts first generation college students, students of color, and students who need financial aid, as noted by the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.

It is often said, that for a student to actually be able to excel in their studies. They must have a proper nutritional diet, a place to rest and work on their studies. Yet, there is currently 14% of all college students living among the United States without a home. It is most commonly due to rent being so expensive that students cannot simply afford. Which later leads to some of these students who are facing financial trouble to become homeless. Which not only leaves the student without a home, but vulnerable to many other factors. For example, infection diseases, unsafe conditions, to even bad weather which can all affect the health of a student.

Food insecurity is defined as “the lack of access to enough food to ensure adequate nutrition.”1 The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reported that 14.6% of US households were food insecure during at least some portion of 2008 (up 11.1% from 2007), the highest levels recorded since monitoring began in 1995.2 Food insecurity is a concern of under consumption and obesity is a disease of over consumption, yet both outcomes may coexist, seemingly incongruously, within the same household.2 The most popular explanation is that low-cost, energy-dense foods linked to obesity are favored by financially constrained households, who are the most likely to be food insecure.2 Another theory, focusing on environmental context net of individual circumstance, argues that obesity and insecurity are both symptoms of malnutrition, occurring in neighborhoods where nutritious foods are unavailable or unaffordable.2 A separate literature researches environmental roles in poor nutritional outcomes, recent studies link obesity as well as atherosclerosis and diabetes to the food environment, the local context of available food items.2 The theory is that local inaccessibility to healthy foods influences diet composition, a claim supported by evidence.2 Especially in poorer neighborhoods, food options are often limited to fast food restaurants, convenience stores, or grocery stores more poorly stocked both in

In 2010, 17 million US households were food insecure. Of those households, approximately 5% reported very low food security (Coleman-Jensen, et. al., 2011). 21% of surveyed students in Hawaii were food insecure, while 15% had low food security and 6% had very low food security (Chaparro, et al., 2009). Oregon State University conducted its own study, which revealed 59% of students surveyed were food insecure at some point in 2013 (Patton-Lopez, 2014). Additionally, a study conducted at two community

4,300 students and 10 community colleges were interviewed about homelessness and hunger and the results were aired significantly. Some didn’t have anything to eat or no family to go to. Also some wasn 't even on speaking terms with their parents or guardian; nevertheless, some also miscalculated the price of college and came up short of funding and had to stop attending.

With the various reading this past week, I believe the government is doing enough, as much as they can to aid in the issue with food insecurity among its citizens. There are so many programs that cater to families and individuals in need. Especially women and children. Social welfare program, such as W.I.C, TANF, General Assistance, food pantries run by the government, etc. all work in efforts to eliminate food insecurities in homes across America. I believe the government is not at 100% percent responsible of the high percentage of food insecurities in America. People and families are at fault as well. I believe life is full of choices, when people do not make the right choices, or problems happen within a person life, such as losing a job or losing a loved one. This losses have high impacts at forcing families and individuals into food insecurities and tough spots in their life. The government should not be held responsible I believe for foreseen occurrences within a person’s life.

America is one of the richest countries in the world but why is their still hunger today? One of the leading countries in imports and exports and continue to hold that platform. But, deeper inside the country the day-to-day standpoint on food insecurities is at a lower than average level. With enough money to eliminate hunger why is this still going on? There are many causes for food insecurities in America.

According to Kirk Carapezza’s article “National Survey Shows High Rates Of Hungry And Homeless Community College Students”, at least fourteen percent of students go without food and shelter, and the number is growing. He quotes sociologist Sara Goldrick-Rab as saying that, “[n]ot only did we find challenges of food insecurity and housing insecurity at the less expensive community colleges, we found it at more expensive colleges”. A university professor discussed in the article says that they were told to offer food in their classes because of this knowledge, and colleges are starting to join with local shelters to help alleviate the issue. This is a step in a great direction, as “[t]wenty percent of students reported being hungry, 13 percent homeless” (Carapezza, Kirk). However, gaining entry into a safe shelter proves difficult for students. Waitlisting for better shelters is discussed in Carapezza’s article, as one student was put on hold for six months before she could move. The idea that anyone needs to be waitlisted to gain entry - or that there are unsafe shelters - is concerning. Living without a roof is hard enough without having to worry about if harm will be inflicted. How is one expected to maintain good grades or graduate when they have unsafe conditions to live

Food insecurity is a term that indicates the limited capability to afford nutritionally adequate and safe food or the limited ability to obtain adequate foods in socially acceptable ways (1-2). In 2015, 13% of all U.S. households, which represents 42.2 million people (including 29.1 million adults and 13.1 million children), were food insecure (3) and food insecurity was found to be present in every county in the United States, ranging from a low of 4% in Loudoun County, VA to a high of 38% in Jefferson County, MS (4).

Food insecurity, or the lack of access to enough food for all members of a household, is something that exists in every part of America. In fact, some 49 million Americans struggle to provide regular meals for their families. This isn't due to lack of food available as it might be in more improvised countries. No, in the land of plenty, it is instead due to a prevalence of poverty, resulting in the inability for many families to afford to purchase the available food. One Virginia church witnessed this need in their community and decided to do something about the problem.

Recently, UCI has made some progress on lowering food insecurity on their campus. UCI’s Student Outreach and Retention, otherwise known as SOAR, has taken steps to reduce the crisis. In 2016, six dollars and fifty cents will be charged quarterly for the next thirty years to fund the program. The program is a student initiated project initiated to help those who are food insecure. The Soar Food Pantry opened up in 2015, and with a Student ID any student at UCI may access the pantry. Visiting the pantry once a week allows a student to have up to three days-worth of nutritional food. All information remains confidential. UC President Janet Napolitano even allotted UCI with two hundred twenty thousand dollars to help combat the issue (Watanabe). In publicizing the issue, more people may be informed and learn that this issue is not a joke. The next step now is to build to a system made to lower food insecurity rates at UCI.

Teaching: Most people are aware of the concept of food insecurity, but very few actually understand it and what it means. Some think it is not having enough food to eat, but food insecurity can also come from the lack of time to buy food. Therefore, it is importance that the Cornell community learns about the causes and effects of food insecurity. Since this is applicable to every behavioral and psychological segment, the most relevant segmentation variable is geography because Cornell students are going to be the one most affected. However, they can also focus on demographics like income and students receiving financial aid because they are more likely to exhibit food insecurity.

Food insecurity is one of the leading public health challenges in the United States today, since millions of people (children and adults) are food insecure because of insufficient money income and other socioeconomic and demographic factors. (Seligman, Kushel, & Laraia, 2010)

degree granting institutions increased from 15.9 million in 2001 to 21 million in 2011. Many students live

One of most common problems in the world is food insecurity. It is not only happening in the third world countries, but it is also happening in the richest country in world, the USA. Food insecurity occurs when a family does not have enough food for all family members. The USDA confirms that 12.7 percent of U.S households are suffering from food insecurity. Food insecurity can be of two kinds: low food insecurity and very low food insecurity. In low insecurity households, family members just eat enough calories for their body, but their food is not nutritious. Low food insecurity makes up 7.4 percent of 12.7 of food insecurity households in the U.S, (USDA). The other type is very low food insecurity. The family members do not have enough food at specific times in the year because they lack money. This type makes up 4.9 percent out of 12.7 percent in the food insecurity, (USDA). Food insecurity most often happens in the households with children, especially households with children headed by a single man or a single woman. The USDA estimates that households with children headed by single woman have 31.6 percent chance of experiencing low food insecurity, and households with children headed by a single man have 21.7 percent chance for low food insecurity. The South has highest rate of food insecurity with 13.5 percent. The rate of food insecurity in the Northeast (10.8 percent) is lower than Midwest (12.2 percent). The rate of food insecurity according to states in the three