Food Insecurity and Its Adverse Effects on Health and Well-being

Running head: WRITING AND INQUIRY 1
Writing and Inquiry

WRITING AND INQUIRY 2
Writing and Inquiry
Food insecurity undermines the health and well-being of the populace. It interferes with
the eating patterns or food intake as a result of a lack of finances and other resources (Parnell &
Gray, 2014). It (food insecurity) is a significant global challenge affecting families because it is
associated with poor health outcomes (Parnell & Gray, 2014). The primary defining feature of
food insecurity is the absence of sufficient nutritious food, an aspect that threatens the well-being
of both children and adults (Ke & Ford-Jones, 2015; Schwartz et al, 2017). Children in food-
insecure households are at an increased risk of malnutrition that, in some cases, leads to deaths
(Ke & Ford-Jones, 2015). The New Zealand (NZ) government considers food insecurity as a
major problem affecting its citizens, especially those from socioeconomically disadvantaged
neighborhoods and families (Ministry of Health, 2019). Food security results in adverse health
outcomes for individuals residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities and
households in New Zealand.
Food insecurity is increasingly becoming a problem in industrialized countries like New
Zealand. It is linked to poor health outcomes and is prevalent in socioeconomically
disadvantaged communities and families. In New Zealand, for instance, food insecurity is
responsible for different health problems, such as obesity, heart-related conditions, cancers, and
diabetes, as well as increasing healthcare spending that thwarts the growth of the economy
(Martin, Maddocks & Chen, 2016). Children that are considerably affected are those from
disadvantaged neighborhoods, and Pacific and Maori ethnic groups (Ministry of Health, 2019;
Kaur, Lamb & Ogden, 2015). However, this does not necessarily mean that children and adults
from other ethnic groups are immune to food insecurity. For instance, 15.5% of the European
children in New Zealand are also affected by food insecurity (Schlichting, Hashemi & Grant,

WRITING AND INQUIRY 3
2019). The government should, therefore, focus on addressing food insecurity in families
experiencing high and low-rate food insecurity. Also, it should target those adversely affected by
food insecurity, including the minority groups, the disabled and low-income families
Food insecurity results in adverse health outcomes. In New Zealand, young individuals
facing food security issues are at risk of being obese or overweight. Ministry of Health (2019)
attributes this to increased consumption of energy-dense, convenient, and low-cost foods. The
most affected are the racial/ethnic minority individuals because of their inability to obtain
healthy diets. They are forced to sacrifice the quality of their diets to make sure that the food
they have is adequate to satisfy their hunger. Their tendency to consume low nutrient-dense food
increases their risks of developing obesity, along with micronutrient deficiencies (Experts
Reaction, 2011; Parnell, Boston & Simpson, 2016). They cannot afford to purchase vegetables
and fruits, limiting themselves to convenient and cheap foods. The government must partner with
the private sector and other significant stakeholders in addressing obesity prevalence in food-
insecure households. For instance, it should reduce tax on foods that are nutritious to enhance
their accessibility and affordability.
Young persons in New Zealand are at risk of being obese because of their eating patterns.
They also suffer from mental health challenges that force them to drop out of school (Parnell,
Boston & Simpson, 2016). Food insecurity arguably threatens the development and mental well-
being of adolescents in New Zealand because of their unhealthy eating patterns (Stoner,
Matheson, Hamlin & Skidmore, 2016). These patterns are caused by their family’s reactions to
food insecurity, such as adjusting the food budget, reducing food consumption, and altering the
type of meals served. They also reduce the variety of food they serve while increasing their
consumption of energy-dense foods. For example, families increase their consumption of added