Abstract
Food insecurity is a threat to the physical and mental health of children and their families. In this article, food insecurity prevalence, definitions, and related concepts will be reviewed. Using a theoretical framework, food insecurity will be related to assessment and interventions appropriate to food-insecure situations. Assessment tools appropriate for the clinical setting will be discussed. Interventions both at the clinical and community levels will be proposed.
Food insecurity is a dynamic, complex issue associated with health, educational, and economic factors. Food insecurity of any severity impacts families and communities in multiple ways. For health care providers, assessing for food insecurity reveals more about a family's struggles than about the availability of food in their home; it is a window into a broader view of the family's strengths and challenges.
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