Pediatric Nutrition

Biography

Biography: Marilyn King Hightower

Abstract

All children deserve to live in a food secure environment. In the United States, 14.3% of all households and 21% of all children met the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) definition of a food-insecure household. Households with children are twice as likely to be food- insecure as households without children. Poverty is not the sole cause of food insecurity since 30% of food-insecure households fall above the $23,643 federal poverty threshold for a family of 4 people, and fall above 185% of the threshold amount, which is $44,093. Children living in food-insecure households are more likely to be sick, recover more slowly from illness and be hospitalized more frequently than children living in food secure households. Food insecurity adversely affects physical growth, cognitive abilities, behavioral health and the emotional health status of children. Poverty is also linked to the development of obesity in both adults and children; food-insecure households have limited access to high-quality foods, tend to live in food deserts, and are more likely to substitute fast foods for nutritionally sound foods. Children living in households with persistent food insecurity are 22% more likely to develop obesity when compared to children living in food-secure households. All health care professionals must be taught to screen for food insecurity, advocate for protecting and increasing access to existing food programs, and work to advance the offering of nutritionally sound foods in existing programs such as WIC, SNAP and school nutrition programs. Poverty and food insecurity are two of the social determinants of health along with income disparity, health inequality and homelessness that are included in a BSN Community Health Nursing course. Additionally, ethical principles and the tenants of social justice are provided as a foundation for community/population health and public health. The social determinants of health and the tenants of social justice are intangible concepts for the student to grasp since it is difficult for most students to relate to another’s circumstances unknown to themselves.