Good morning friends of Care and Share,
We have exciting news to share!
The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a first-ever recommendation that pediatricians screen all children for food insecurity. The document identifies the short and long-term adverse health impacts of food insecurity, and recommends that pediatricians become familiar with and refer families to needed community resources.
The publication notes that there are multiple adverse health outcomes strongly correlated with food insecurity. Below is a partial list:
- Children 36 months old or younger who live in food insecure households have poorer overall health and more hospitalizations than do children who live in food-secure households.
- Children with food insecurity are more likely to be iron deficient, as are adolescents with food insecurity.
- Food insecurity is associated with lower bone density in pre-adolescent boys.
- In food insecure households, adequate food may be available only intermittently, leading to unhealthy eating patterns and increased stress that may make weight loss difficult and facilitate the development of obesity.
- Among children of all ages, food insecurity is linked with lower cognitive indicators, dysregulated behavior, and emotional distress.
- Young children in food-insecure households are more likely to have behavior problems above and beyond those attributable to their mother’s depression and anxiety.
- Adolescents in food-insecure families are more likely to experience dysthymia and suicidal ideation.
Right here in Southern Colorado, 1 in 4 children are at risk of hunger. This is not okay! We are working hard every day to ensure these children have access to the healthy food they need to thrive, and now we have the American Academy of Pediatrics on our side!
