The Impact of Food Insecurity on Child Health

Food insecurity (FI) has severe implications on children's health and their future health outcomes. Children with FI have limited access to healthy foods and demonstrate poorer eating behavior, leading to chronic absenteeism, school failure, and chronic disease. Given the health implications of FI, it is imperative for pediatricians to screen all children, and advocate for protecting necessary nutritional programs that exist to mitigate FI and for improved accessibility of nutritious, healthy food options, especially in locations labeled as food deserts. Given the severe consequences of FI, collaboration of multidisciplinary teams is necessary to facilitate enhanced care of all patients.