Food insecurity means not always having enough food or access to the foods that you need to stay healthy and thrive.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that someone feels hungry all the time but it does mean they constantly worry about running out of food, that they may be eating less than they need or that they can only afford certain types of foods that may not be the most nutritious. When people do not have access to a variety of nutritious foods, their health and well being can get worse over time.  

Food insecurity can also increase risk of chronic disease. Having limited access to a variety of foods can result in a diet that is high in some nutrients but lower in others.  This imbalance can lead to a greater chance of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other chronic diseases. Persistent food insecurity can lead to malnutrition–  not getting the nutrients from food that the body needs to grow and stay healthy.  This can make it harder for the body to fight off sickness, lead to weakness, persistent tiredness and increased risk of disease. 

Food insecurity has a negative effect on mental health.  Worrying about having enough food or enough health promoting foods for yourself or your family can cause stress, sadness and anxiety.  People who don’t get enough food or nutrients can feel tired, weak and have trouble focusing.  Over time these feelings can lead to mental health problems like depression. 

Food insecurity can cause hunger– the uncomfortable and often painful physical feeling one gets from not getting enough food.  They are not the same but they are certainly related.