Factors Of Food Insecurity And Its Effects On Canada

Introduction

Canada is a developed country, ranking high in several important areas such as quality of life, education, economy and human rights, compared to other countries. As a result, one might not think that an issue such as food insecurity affects the Canadian population. Food insecurity is defined as inadequate or insufficient access in quality and quantity to food due to different restrictions. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) which has been monitoring food insecurity since 2005, over 4 million Canadians live in food insecure households. In 2013-2014, among the provinces and territories monitored, 17. 2% of children lived in households affected by food insecurity. Under the age of 18, household food insecurity affects 1 in 6 Canadian children. Unfortunately, the issue continues to affect a number of Canadian households as national statistics has seen a significant increase in food insecurity over the years. The subject of food security is vital as it is needed in households for all people, to meet suitable and necessary nutritious food requirements for a healthy life. Furthermore, it is considered a determinant of health and those that have to deal with greater food insecurity often face a number of poor outcomes in their development and life. Food insecurity negatively impacts children socially, physically and mentally while also costing the Canadian health care system and as a result, it is a serious public health matter that needs to be addressed. This paper will look at the economic, social and cultural factors behind food insecurity, and how it affects the health and well-being of Canadian children, as well as children from more vulnerable populations in Canada such as minorities, new immigrants, and Aboriginals. While it is valuable to explore the consequences of food insecurity in children in Canada, comparing the situation to another developed country such Australia provides insights into how this is a global issue. Moreover, this paper will also examine responses to the problem from Canadian governments, schools, and communities while providing solutions that can be a step forward to tackle the implications and help bring change.

Factors Causing Food Insecurity in Canada

This section of the paper will discuss the contributing factors to the issue. While there are multiple causes and influences related to food insecurity, such as gender, and social position, ultimately, one of the main underlying causes is economic access such as not having enough money to pay for food. The economic lense will showcase how individuals with lower incomes and wages, those with part-time, temporary or those unemployed and on social assistance are at a greater risk to food insecurity. Tarasuk and Vogt (2009) found that food insecurity prevalence was highest in households with social assistance as the main source of income. In addition, it was more common in single parent households. Households facing financial vulnerability lack the means to gather a diet that was balanced with healthy and fresh foods as those specific foods are costly. When faced with lower incomes, individuals cannot afford a wide range of choices in purchasing power and children then often rely on less nutrient dense foods. For example, among young boys and girls living in low-income households, calcium and vitamin D intakes were lower.

Consequences of Food Insecurity in Canadian Children

This part of the trajectory of the paper will involve arguments that highlight why this issue needs to be addressed by providing evidence on how greater food insecurity affecting children causes mental health problems such as depression, mood, behaviour and substance disorders, chronic diseases, diabetes, obesity and lower academic achievement and productivity. Due to these problems, a number of studies have found that a higher rate of food insecurity results in being a predictor for health care utilization and health care costs. For example, Tarasuk et al (2015)’s study discovered that with increasing severity of household food insecurity, the total health care costs, such as prescription drugs, emergency department visits, physician services and inpatient hospital care, rose systematically. Furthermore, children from food-insecure households with diabetes mellitus were significantly more likely to be hospitalized than those from households that were food-secure. The supporting arguments will focus on how the state of food insecurity creates health inequalities between different groups of populations in Canada and how these populations (e. g. new immigrants and Aboriginal children) face experiences of food insecurity that contrast from the rest of the population. These circumstances place a heavy burden on the Canadian health care system as costs are likely to increase.

Solutions: Reducing Food Insecurity

To tackle and support the arguments that economic, social and cultural factors are behind the increase in food insecurity, it is crucial to introduce solutions to prevent these conditions that give rise to problems of food insecurity in Canada in the first place. The importance in recognizing these barriers can pave the way for them to be addressed. In discussing solutions, there will be a consideration for policies and actions that governments and communities can take. For example, by addressing economic factors, there can be more done to adjust minimum wage rates and provide basic government food income assistances to ensure households meet at least the basic healthy, balanced diets they require. Governments can provide policies in the form of income security, secure employment policies, tax subsidies and exemptions.