HLTB41H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Welfare, Food Security
Food Insecurity and the risk of Morbidity and Mortality in the Canadian Population
1. Experienced when there is uncertainty regarding, or disruption in food intake or eating
patterns by at least one member of a household due to financial constraints, resulting
inadequate or insecure access to food
2. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic and
economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and
food preferences for an active and healthy life
First systematically assessed in 2004:
1.1 million Canadians identified as being food insecure
9.2% of all Canadian households
2014 estimates:
1.3 million Canadians identified as being food insecure
3.2 million individuals
National prevalence 12%
oMore concentrated in urban centres, very heterogeneous
Ontario prevalence 11.9%
Social assistance:
61% of households relying on social assistance were food insecure
Food insecurity measurements in Canada
As of 2013, food insecurity measurement became optional
4 provinces did not include food insecurity in 2014
oBritish Columbia
oYukon territory
oManitoba
oNewfoundland and Labrador
What don’t we know about food insecurity:
Relationship between food insecurity and chronic disease risk is mixed
oMajority of literature comes from cross-sectional studies
oNo prospective studies conducted in population - based samples
Food Insecurity and mortality:
Weiser 2009
oN = 1,119 participants from BC HIV/AIDS drug treatment program followed for 8
years
oFood insecure + underweight individuals had 1.94 times the risk of non-
accidental death
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
1. 1 million canadians identified as being food insecure. 1. 3 million canadians identified as being food insecure. National prevalence 12: more concentrated in urban centres, very heterogeneous. 61% of households relying on social assistance were food insecure. As of 2013, food insecurity measurement became optional. 4 provinces did not include food insecurity in 2014: british columbia, yukon territory, manitoba, newfoundland and labrador. Relationship between food insecurity and chronic disease risk is mixed: majority of literature comes from cross-sectional studies, no prospective studies conducted in population - based samples. Weiser 2009: n = 1,119 participants from bc hiv/aids drug treatment program followed for 8 years, food insecure + underweight individuals had 1. 94 times the risk of non- accidental death. Anema 2013: n = 245 injection drug users from bc hiv/aids drug treatment program followed for 13 years, food insecure individuals had 1. 95 times the risk of mortality. Research may inform upstream interventions to reduce persistent socioeconomic disparities in mortality risk.
