Philadelphia, PA
A new report issued by America's Second Harvest entitled "Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2003-2005" finds that nearly half a million or 16.8% children in Pennsylvania live in food insecure households. The lack of access to adequate nutritious foods can have a detrimental impact on a child's physical and cognitive development.
In the United States, one out of six children live in food insecure households meaning that they do not always where their next meal will come from. The report is the first state-level examination of food insecurity among children - analyzing data from 12 states with data collected from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS).
Research has shown that children who lack access to adequate food and nutrition experience:
- Higher rates of hospitalization
- Poor health
- Deficits in cognitive development
- Behaviroal and emotional problems
Dr. John Cook, a Principal Investigator for the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program in Boston, MA, determined the prevalence of food insecurity for the report. Analysis and further detail about the methodology of the study can be found at Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program.
For more information about this highlight or any of the highlights on the Philadelphia GROW Project website, please contact Michelle Renee Chyatte, MPH.