Food Insecurity

Introduction: Food and nutrition insecurity, characterized by limited or uncertain access to sufficient and affordable nutritious foods, is an economic and social condition at the individual, household, and neighborhood levels that poses a significant public health issue. Health impacts of food insecurity are far-reaching and affect individuals across the lifespan, particularly regarding increased risk of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and negative pregnancy outcomes.  

Methods: A keyword search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar using the terms food insecurity, food security, social determinants of health (SDoH), and food insecurity in primary care. Articles analyzing primary care settings were included.  

Discussion: Multiple risk factors for food insecurity were identified, many of which are related to socioeconomic conditions and other SDoH. Many health impacts of food insecurity were identified as well, affecting individuals across the lifespan, particularly regarding increased risk of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and negative pregnancy outcomes. Ongoing relationships that primary care physicians have with their patients strategically position them to identify and mitigate food insecurity, particularly in vulnerable communities. However, integration into primary care of food insecurity screening and intervention remains inconsistent.