WELCOME TO THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY: ASSURED FOOD SECURITY AND GOOD HEALTH NOT INCLUDED

Abstract

Experienced by millions of Americans annually, food insecurity is the limited/uncertain access to readily obtainable and nutritionally adequate safe foods that are secured in a socially acceptable way and contribute to an active and healthy lifestyle (Anderson 1990). Previous findings suggest that a complex relationship exists between food security status and health status, especially among Hispanic populations; however, the number of studies addressing this relationship is limited. Utilizing secondary data from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, this study aims to assess how food security status affects health status for American households, and how acculturation moderates this relationship for Hispanic households.

Guiding this research is the Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox revealed by Markides and Coreil (1986) in their study of the health statuses of Hispanics living in the Southwestern United States. The principal contributions of this research are fourfold. First, it offers insight into the high prevalence of food insecurity in the United States. Second, it adds to existing research by examining how acculturation affects the susceptibility of Hispanic households to food insecurity and poor health compared to non-Hispanic households. Third, it shows the need to gather more in-depth food security and health data at the state and local levels. Lastly, this research highlights the need for policy creation/reform targeting the nutritional and health statuses of not only vulnerable racial and ethnic groups that are among the most susceptible to food insecurity and poor health, but also the larger American population as a whole.