Effects Of Food Insecurity Research Articles

Food insecurity and women's mental health in the Chitwan Valley of Nepal

Food insecurity is a major threat to global public health and sustainable development. As of 2022, 2.4 billion people worldwide experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. The occurrence and severity of food insecurity can depend greatly on power and social hierarchies, with women and girls often being less food secure than men and boys even within the same household. Moreover, social roles, such as the socialization of a mother to feed her children, impact food insecurity and its consequences. This study aims to uncover the relationships between food insecurity and mental health for women in the Chitwan Valley of Nepal. Utilizing longitudinal data from the Chitwan Valley Family Study, we connect food security data from 2015 with mental health data collected from 2016 to 2018. We find that women have a higher prevalence of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks than men, especially if they are experiencing food insecurity. Among women, we find that those who have recently experienced severe food insecurity have a significantly higher likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks than food-secure women. However, women's food insecurity is not significantly correlated with major depressive disorder. Moreover, we find that food insecurity is likely to co-occur with women's agricultural and wage work. These findings suggest a need for gender-attentive policy and programs accounting for both causes and consequences of food insecurity.

Impact of food insecurity on cognitive health in older adults: insights from the NHANES 2011-2014 data.

To investigate the relationship between food insecurity and cognitive decline among elderly Americans. Utilizing NHANES 2011-2014 data, we examined cognitive function via the Immediate Recall Test (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and assessed food security through the US Food Security Survey Module. Multiple regression models were used to adjust for demographic and health variables. Food insecurity demonstrated a significant association with lower cognitive function scores. The effects of food insecurity on cognitive function were moderated by factors such as smoking and alcohol use, indicating a direct influence of food insecurity on cognitive decline. This study underscores the importance of food security for cognitive health in the elderly and advocates for targeted interventions to address nutritional disparities and enhance cognitive functioning in aging populations.

What are the effects of food insecurity among adults with obesity on mental health?

What are the effects of food insecurity among adults with obesity on mental health?

Climate change, flooding, and HIV transmission in Africa: Potential relationships and a call for action

AbstractThe increasing effects of climate change have intensified floods globally, especially in Africa, where millions of people live in poverty and are highly vulnerable to flooding. Climate change disproportionately affects the vulnerable, who are least equipped to handle its consequences, by exacerbating their situation. One such consequence is the potential for increased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Africa has been disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. It now faces the additional challenge of a changing climate and floods, which are capable of increasing HIV transmission in Africa through several pathways. They can force population displacement and migration, leading to the expansion of sexual networks among people living with HIV (PLWHIV). They may also create conditions conducive to the spread of other infections. Floods can cause food insecurity, which can result in various sexual behaviors that expose people to HIV infection. As global warming is linked to a decrease in African food production capacity, the effect of food insecurity on HIV may be prominent in countries where transactional sexual means is a major route of HIV transmission. Floods can also hinder the provision of HIV services, such as pre‐ and postexposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy distribution, which may worsen the health outcomes of PLWHIV and promote HIV transmission, particularly in rural and remote communities. It is crucial to develop a climate‐resilient framework, including education, sustained access to HIV services, and promotion of social welfare for HIV prevention and treatment, to address the complex relationship between HIV, floods, and climate change.

Effects of Food Insecurity and Dietary Factors on Sleep Quality and Perceived Stress

Food insecurity is a significant concern at a national level, with college students facing a disproportionate impact. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of access to reliable and nutritious food. The link between food insecurity and perceived stress has been documented in prior research; however, its impact on sleep quality has yet to be studied. Food insecurity may reduce the nutritional quality of their diet and increase stress levels, which may negatively impact their sleep. This study aims to assess the impact of food insecurity and diet habits on perceived stress and sleep quality. Our hypothesis is that individuals with high food insecurity and a low quality diet experience higher perceived stress levels and decreased sleep quality. An anonymous survey was distributed through several social media platforms to individuals over the age of 18. The survey included demographic questions and seven validated scales. The scales included the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Effciency, and Duration (SATED) Questionnaire, Health Promoting Activities Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Food Mood Questionnaire. These scales measured level of food insecurity, frequency of self-selected health activities, perceived stress, sleep quality, exercise habits, self-esteem, perceived stress, and dietary habits. Data from 561 individuals were analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Coeffcient in IBM SPSS Version 28.0. The results reveal that feeling worried about having enough to eat was negatively correlated with sleep quality (r= 0-.177, p<0.01), sleeping between 6 and 8 hours a day (r= 0-.181, p<0.01), having confidence handling personal problems (r= -0.201, p<0.01), and consuming dark leafy vegetables (r= 0-.164, p<0.01). Feeling nervous and stressed was positively correlated with sleeping between 2am and 4am (r= 0.088, p<0.05) and negatively correlated with sleep satisfaction (r= 0-.335, p<0.01). Consuming fruits was positively correlated with sleep satisfaction (r= 0.112, p< 0.01), while consuming nuts was positively correlated with staying awake during the day (r= 0.136, p<0.01). The results suggest a strong relationship between food insecurity, diet quality, mental well-being, and sleep quality. Those who are food insecure are less likely to have adequate nutrition, which could raise their stress levels and increase diffculty sleeping. On the other hand, those who consume a well-balanced diet are more likely to have better quality sleep; however, it is worth noting that those who show signs of mental distress are less likely to have a good sleep quality. No funding was provided for this research study. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Factors associated with food security in rural communities across the globe

Food security is a global issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Several studies have been carried out to understand the dynamics of food security resulting from emerging issues across the globe such as climate change, conflict, etc. The authors have reviewed in this article the factors associated with food security in rural communities considering the socio-economic characteristics of individuals, livelihood concerns, inflation in the economy and purchasing power of households, the use of technology, governmental or non-governmental support and the effect of food insecurity on individuals and households. The studies have shown that lack of employment opportunities, low income of households, climate change, inflation and instability of food prices, poor rural infrastructure, inefficient government policies, and lack of technology at household level are major contributing factors to rural food insecurity. Moreover, one of the key conclusions of the published studies is that food insecurity negatively impacts health in both adults and children.

Food Insecurity in the Middle East, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and Türkiye

Almost all Middle Eastern nations now struggle with malnutrition and allocate a significant portion of their oil earnings to food. In addition to already challenging and changing climate and water pressure, ongoing conflict and the war atmosphere, poverty, a lack of purchasing power, and pandemic diseases in the region all seem to play a role. However, the deepening of Russia’s conflicts with Ukraine in recent years has made matters worse for the hungry in this fragile region and placed even self-sufficient nations in a precarious position. This paper addresses the Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative, which was implemented through diplomatic measures hosted by Türkiye and guaranteed the secure transportation of Ukrainian grain to international markets. The study begins with a thorough discussion of the origins and effects of food insecurity in Middle Eastern countries. The second part examines the impact of this initiative on regional politics. To address the current issue, an integrated approach built on comprehension of cause-and-effect interactions has been implemented. The findings were gathered using a data collection technique.

Effects of Food Insecurity on Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis in People With HIV

Background & AimsFood insecurity (FI) is a risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced fibrosis in the general population, but its impact on liver disease in people with HIV (PWH) is unknown. MethodsWe examined the association of FI with prevalence of NAFLD and fibrosis in a diverse cohort of PWH. PWH aged ≥18 years on antiretroviral therapy, HIV RNA<200 copies/mL, and without other known liver diseases were screened for NAFLD (CAP≥263 decibels/meter) and advanced fibrosis (LSM≥11 kilopascals) by vibration controlled transient elastography at eight US centers. Participants were categorized as food insecure using the Six-Item Short Form Household Food Security Survey. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis by FI status. ResultsAmong 654 PWH, NAFLD was present in 348 (53%) and advanced fibrosis in 41 (6%). FI was present in 203 (31%) of participants, including 97/348 (28%) with NAFLD and 18/41 (44%) with advanced fibrosis. In multivariable analysis, FI was associated with lower odds of NAFLD (OR=0.57,95%CI:0.37-0.88) and a greater, but nonsignificant, odds of advanced fibrosis (OR=1.38,95%CI:0.65-2.90). We identified a significant interaction between FI and diabetes (p=0.02) on fibrosis risk, with a greater odds of fibrosis among food insecure PWH and diabetes (OR=3.83,95%CI:1.15-12.73) but not among food insecure nondiabetics (OR=1.12,95%CI:0.47-2.98). ConclusionsFI is highly prevalent among PWH and associated with lower odds of NAFLD, and among PWH with diabetes, a greater odds of advanced fibrosis. FI may contribute to hepatic fibrosis through mechanisms other than steatosis in PWH.

Abstract P404: Food Insecurity Has a Moderation Effect in the Association Between Neighborhood Deprivation and Obesity Among Children

Background: Childhood obesity tracks into adulthood and is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) (including food security, financial stability, and living conditions) and obesity among children have been well established. However, there is limited research on the heterogeneity of the role of food insecurity or insufficiency and neighborhood deprivation (ND) on obesity risk in children. We aimed to investigate the moderating effect of food insecurity in the association between ND, health insurance, race/ethnicity, and Body Mass Index (BMI) among children aged 3-11 years old. Methods: For this cross-sectional study of 223,653 children aged 3-11 years who were members of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, weight and height were collected during routine annual medical visits and extracted from electronic health records. ND index (NDI) was based on patients’ addresses using 2021 regional data. Higher indices represent a higher deprivation. The risk of food insecurity was assessed using the Hunger Vital Sign™ tool on the well-child visit questionnaire. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed with the absolute distance from the median BMI-for-age and sex based on the 2000 CDC growth charts. Models included age, sex, race/ethnicity, state-subsidized health insurance, self-reported risk food insecurity, and 2-way interaction terms for NDI and state-subsidized health insurance with food insecurity. Results: The cohort included children with a mean age of 7.9 years (SD 2.4), males (51.2%), Hispanics (50.3%), living with obesity (24.1%), resided in neighborhoods above the average deprivation (39.6%), and were enrolled in state-subsidized health insurance (25.6%). The risk of food insecurity and insufficiency were reported at 5.0% and 3.3%, respectively. In adjusted models, a higher NDI quintile, state-subsidized health insurance, race/ethnicity, and food insecurity were all associated with a higher BMI (p&lt;0.0001). Food insecurity also moderated the association between NDI and BMI (p = 0.0244) and between state-subsidized health insurance and BMI (p = 0.0034). The effect of food insecurity was highest among those with the least ND and with private health insurance. In a separate model, food insecurity had no moderating effect in the association between race/ethnicity and BMI (p = 0.1). Conclusion: Food insecurity showed a moderating effect on high BMI risk among children in higher deprived neighborhoods and enrolled in state-subsidized health insurance. This study highlights the possible effects of food insecurity on obesity among children regardless of race/ethnicity. Future studies are recommended to investigate the moderating role of food insecurity in health outcomes, specifically obesity-associated conditions among children with low SES.

Effect of food insecurity on depression, anxiety, and stress among resettled Syrian refugees in Ontario.

Food insecurity has been linked to adverse health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations such as refugees. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of food insecurity and its association with depression, anxiety, and stress among resettled Syrian refugee parents in Ontario. This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 540 Syrian refugee parents who resided in Ontario for an average of four years and had at least one child less than 18 years who were interviewed. Information about food insecurity was collected based on the question "During the past year, did you ever eat less because there was not enough food or money for food?". Levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between food insecurity and depression, anxiety, and stress after adjusting for sociodemographic, migration-, and health-related factors. 44.6% of respondents reported experiencing food insecurity. Of participants, 7.6%, 8.9%, and 8.5% reported severe to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that food insecurity was significantly associated with higher levels of depression (Adjβ = 2.00, p = 0.008), anxiety (Adjβ = 1.53, p = 0.013), and stress (Adjβ = 1.87, p = 0.019). Implementation of effective government interventions and frameworks are essential to reduce food insecurity among resettled Syrian refugees to ultimately improve their mental health outcomes and overall well-being.

Food Insecurity and Executive Function among Older Mexican Adults: Indirect Effects through Depressive Symptoms

AbstractBackgroundRecent work has linked food insecurity with worse cognitive outcomes, with executive function being a domain affected most consistently. The mechanisms underlying this association are largely unknown and few have investigated how changes in food insecurity over time (never food insecure, newly food insecure, formerly food insecure, or chronically food insecure) relate with cognitive outcomes. Food insecurity is also related with worsening depressive symptoms, which may impact executive function. This study evaluates how changes in food insecurity in late‐life relate with executive function, and whether this association is mediated by depressive symptoms among older adults in Mexico.MethodData includes the 2012‐2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and 2016 Mex‐Cog subsample of the MHAS (n = 1,581 age 55+). Food insecurity was classified as never food insecure (not food insecure in 2012 or 2015), newly food insecure (food insecure in 2015 but not 2012), formerly food insecure (food insecure in 2012 but not 2015), or chronically food insecure (food insecure in 2012 and 2015). Executive function and depressive symptoms (CES‐D) were obtained from the Mex‐Cog. Direct/indirect (through depression) effects of food insecurity were tested using structural equation modeling with bootstrap confidence intervals controlling for demographic and socioeconomic confounders.ResultApproximately half of the sample were never food insecure, 16% were newly food insecure, 15% were chronically food insecure, and 18% were formerly food insecure. SEM results indicated partial mediation. Significant direct effects were observed, with chronic and former food insecurity related with 0.12 and 0.11 standard deviations lower executive function, respectively, compared to the never food insecure. Both chronic and former food insecurity exhibited significant indirect effects via depressive symptoms with indirect effects making up 21% and 15% of the total effects of chronic and former food insecurity on executive function.ConclusionFood insecurity may represent an important modifiable risk factor for poorer executive function outcomes. Although food insecurity had a direct impact on executive function, part of its detrimental effect was through worsening depressive symptoms. This study highlights the importance of considering experiences of food insecurity over time and the co‐existence of both food insecurity and depressive symptoms.

Adolescent food insecurity in female rodents and susceptibility to diet-induced obesity

Food insecurity is defined as having limited or uncertain access to nutritious foods, and adolescent food insecurity is associated with obesity and disordered eating behaviors in humans. We developed a rodent model of adolescent food insecurity to determine whether adolescent food insecurity per se promotes increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and altered eating behaviors during adulthood. Female juvenile Wistar rats were singly housed and assigned to three experimental diets: food-secure with standard chow (CHOW), food-secure with a high-fat/sugar Western diet (WD), and food-insecure with WD (WD-FI). Food-secure rats (CHOW and WD) received meals at fixed feeding times (9:00, 13:00, and 16:00). WD-FI rats received meals at unpredictable intervals of the above-mentioned feeding times but had isocaloric amounts of food to WD. We investigated the impact of adolescent food insecurity on motivation for sucrose (Progressive Ratio), approach-avoidance behavior for palatable high-fat food (Approach-Avoidance task), and susceptibility to weight gain and hyperphagia when given an obesogenic choice diet. Secondary outcomes were the effects of food insecurity during development on anxiety-like behaviors (Open Field and Elevated Plus Maze) and learning and memory function (Novel Location Recognition task). Rodents with adolescent food insecurity showed a greater trend of weight gain and significantly increased fat mass and liver fat accumulation on an obesogenic diet in adulthood, despite no increases in motivation for sucrose or high-fat food. These data suggest that adolescent unpredictable food access increases susceptibility to diet-induced fat gain without impacting food motivation or food intake in female rodents. These findings are among a small group of recent studies modeling food insecurity in rodents and suggest that adolescent food insecurity in females may have long-term implications for metabolic physiology later in life.

Food insecurity in international and domestic students at an Australian university 2 years into the global COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesThe aim of this article is to explore the differences in the prevalence, sociodemographic determinants, and effects of food insecurity between international and domestic students in an Australian university during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThis study uses a cross-sectional online survey. The questionnaire contained the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module to assess food security status. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between student characteristics and food insecurity. A total of 467 students (376 domestic and 91 international) attending a large university in Sydney completed the survey between October 2021 and May 2022. ResultsCompared with domestic students (13.0% food insecure), international students (18.7% food insecure) had higher odds of being food insecure in our sample (odds ratio = 2.02; 95% CI, 1.01–4.07; P = 0.013). Different risk factors for food insecurity were identified in these two student groups (e.g., being undergraduates and living outside the parental home, for domestic students, and, for international students, living in accommodation that provided meals that did not suit their preferences and experiencing changes in living arrangements due to the pandemic). Lower fruit intake was reported by food-insecure domestic students. Poor well-being was reported by both food-insecure domestic and international students. International students with food insecurity were more likely to use food assistance services than food-insecure domestic students. ConclusionsInternational students experienced a higher risk of food insecurity than domestic students during the pandemic in Australia. More tailored interventions to address food insecurity need to be developed for international and domestic students by considering their different experiences.

Food insecurity and delayed or forgone health care among pregnant and postpartum women in the United States, 2019–2021

ObjectiveDespite the growing food insecurity crisis in the United States, limited evidence exists about the effects of food insecurity on the unmet health care needs of peripartum (pregnant and postpartum) women. The aim of this study was to examine the association between food insecurity and delayed or forgone health care among peripartum women in the United States from 2019 to 2021. MethodsWe conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 National Health Interview Surveys. Food security status was defined by type (high/marginal, low, and very low). Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, were conducted to estimate the overall and specific delayed or forgone health care (yes or no) between the different categories of food security. ResultsOf the 1525 peripartum women (weighted, N = 5,580,186), 11% of peripartum women in the United States experienced suboptimal food security in the 12 mo between 2019 and 2021, with 5% experiencing low and 5% experiencing very low food security. This included 6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5–8%) who reported delaying filling a medical prescription, 6% (95% CI, 5–8%) who required counseling or therapy from a mental health professional but did not receive it, 6% (5–8%) who delayed counseling or therapy from a mental health professional, 8% (95% CI, 6–10%) who needed medical care but did not receive it, and 9% (95% CI, 7–10%) who delayed medical care. Peripartum women with low and very food security were more likely to delay or forego health care due to cost concerns than food-secure peripartum women. In the multivariable analyses adjusted for predisposing, enabling, and need-based factors, women with low and very low food security had higher risk for delayed or forgone health care than those with marginal or high food security. ConclusionThis study demonstrated a positive association between food insecurity and cost-related unmet health care needs among peripartum women. Future empirical studies are needed to assess the effects of peripartum health care interventions targeting food insecurity on reducing health care access disparities associated with costs and improving peripartum health outcomes.

Coffee cooperatives and cross-border side-sales in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: two sides of the same coin

Abstract In the Eastern DRC, coffee farmers combine the different sales outlets available to them. Cooperative members sell coffee to the cooperatives they belong to as well as to informal markets, which include a channel of illegal cross-border smuggling. In this conflict affected region, the informal cross-border markets persist irrespective of the presence of cooperatives. This paper seeks to understand the motivating factors of the side-selling behavior of coffee cooperative members. We study the coffee production and sales of 339 cooperative members in the region and use a double hurdle model to understand which farm characteristics relate to the side-selling behavior. The omnipresence of side-selling in the cooperatives suggest that the unstable political and economic environment is conducive to this co-existence of informal trade and cooperative membership. Side-selling seems a deliberate strategy by the farmers that is tolerated by the cooperatives. The results suggest that farmers who are in a more precarious situation are more inclined to engage with informal markets. This is further underscored by the effect of food insecurity and lack of credit. Hence, the informal market is a safety net that allows immediate payment of coffee in contrast to cooperatives that are more formally organized.

P17-001-23 Determinants and Consequences of Food Insecurity Among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review

P17-001-23 Determinants and Consequences of Food Insecurity Among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review

P24-107-23 Effects of Food Insecurity on Academic Motivation Amongst Undergraduate University Students

P24-107-23 Effects of Food Insecurity on Academic Motivation Amongst Undergraduate University Students

Effects of food insecurity on nutrition, stress, and resilience

Food Insecurity is a pressing issue that impacts many Americans, specifically the college student population. Along with the various burdens that come with university life, lacking adequate access to nutritious dense foods poses a serous threat to the resilience and stress levels of students. However, there is a lack on research addressing the relationship between food insecurity, stress and resilience among college students. To assess how food insecurity and low income impact stress, resilience, and diet, an anonymous online survey targeting 18 and older was distributed via social media and emails. This survey included demographic questions and several validated scales such as Food Insecurity Experience Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, Academic Motivation Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Stress Mindset Measure, and Perceived Stress Scale. A total of 1005 participants completed the survey. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient in SPSS version 25.0. The results indicate that there is a positive correlation between food insecurity and consumption of pre-packaged food. A negative correlation exists between food insecurity and consumption of fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, whole grain products, and frequent breakfast consumption. This suggests that those who are food insecure are more likely to be deficient in essential nutrients that accompany a well-balanced diet. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between stress and food insecurity as well as a negative correlation between food insecurity and resilience. This indicates that students who are food insecure are more likely to feel stressed and less confident in their ability to handle their personal problems. On the other hand, consuming dark leafy vegetables has a negative correlation with hopelessness, and consuming fruits has a negative correlation with feelings of stress and nervousness. This points to a strong relationship between food insecurity, stress, resilience, and diet. In conclusion, the lack of nutritious foods consumed stemming from food insecurity negatively impacts college students by increasing their stress levels and lowering their resilience. Binghamton University This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Estimating Some Indicators of Food Security for Rural Households

In Jordan, more people are at risk of food insecurity. The levels of food security of households in Al-Balqa Governorate were studied. Food consumption score was estimated by frequency of consumption of food group by household within 7 days. Based on answers from the head of household a food insecurity scale was measured. Coping strategies index was valued to be consistent with that of the World Food Programme. Some of factors affecting proportion of expenditure out of total income on food were examined using a multiple linear regression model. The percentage of food expenditure out of total household income, food consumption score, food insecurity scale for each participant, and index of coping strategies with changes related to food deficiency were estimated. Food insecurity scale, age and income of household accounted for 21% of total expenditure. The relationship between food insecurity scale and age and income of households with total expenditure on food had a medium value of 47%. The effect of food insecurity, age, and income was significant on a proportion of total household expenditure on food with negative regression coefficients. The study concluded that households are characterized by an average level of food security, degree of food consumption is acceptable, a measure of food insecurity for each participant is low and marginal, and food security status of household is of second degree.

Introduction to senior hunger special issue

AbstractOver 5 million persons aged 60 and older are food insecure in the United States. Research on food insecurity among seniors, however, has been sparse. In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (USDA, FNS) funded a series of studies in this research area. In this introduction, we describe trends and consequences of food insecurity among seniors followed by an overview of the nine funded projects. These papers constitute a second round of papers funded by USDA in this research area –the first round was published in volume 44, issue 2 of this journal.