Illuminating Intersections: Hunger and Health

 

When someone is sick, having to choose between food and treatment can lead to serious complications. For example, for food-insecure adults living with diabetes, the choice between food and controlling the disease can even lead to complications like kidney disease, eye disease, and nerve damage.

• Food insecurity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.
• More than half the households the Feeding America network serves have at least one member living with high blood pressure and more than one-third have a member with diabetes.
• Children at risk of hunger are more likely to be in poor health and struggle in school.
• Family members in food-insecure households are also more likely to struggle with psychological and behavioral health issues. And kids struggling to get enough to eat are more likely to have problems in school and other social situations.