International Journal of Environmental Research

Running Head: FOOD SECURITY 1
Food Security
Name of student
Name of Professor
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FOOD SECURITY 2
Date
Summary of food security as a social determinant of health
According to Bryant et al., (2011), food security is defined as the measure of
availability and ability to access nutritious and healthy food. Access to nutritious food
is regarded as a critical social determinant of health since it has a direct impact on the
well-being of a patient. Individuals who cannot afford or access food, which is
nutritious, suffer from chronic illnesses or other illnesses related to the deficiency of
various minerals or vitamins. Limited/lack of access to nutritious food can lead to
ripple effects on other key social determinants of health, such as education. This,
therefore, underlines the significance of food security as a determinant of health. This
document, therefore, discusses the individuals and groups impacted by food security
as a social determinant. The paper also discusses the overall impact of food security
on Canadian society as well as current trends on food security.

FOOD SECURITY 3
Individual and groups impacted by food security as a social determinant of
health
One of the groups affected by food security as a social determinant of health is
the children. Children are very susceptible to food insecurity. One of the reasons
which make children get affected by food insecurity is poverty. Poverty makes it
difficult for children to access enough food to meet their dietary needs. According to
Egeland et al. (2010), over 4 million Canadians are food insecure. Of these, more than
1.1 million are children who live in homes that struggle to access food. Food
insecurity has the most significant negative impact on children. This is because, when
children experience food insecurity at an early age, it interferes with their mental
health, and hence they may become hyperactive. Additionally, food insecurity among
children increases the risk of asthma as well as diseases such as kwashiorkor and
marasmus.
Older people are another group that is significantly impacted by food insecurity.
Research indicates that more than 6% of people beyond the age of 65 years are
vulnerable to food insecurity. This is mainly attributed to low income for this group of
people since most of them are past working age (Gore & Kothari, 2012). This,
therefore, means that they have less disposable income and hence making access to
food more difficult. The older people who have no one to take care of them are at a
higher risk of food insecurity as compared to those who have people to care for them.
Food insecurity among seniors results in adverse health outcomes since it leads to the
development of chronic diseases and hence increasing the cost of healthcare.
Research also indicates high rates of food insecurity among Aboriginal
Canadians. According to Douglas, (2013), 34% of Aboriginal Canadians experience