Food Insecurity Topic Guide

Food insecurity means not having reliable access to enough food or to healthy, nutritious food. It does not always mean going hungry. Some people may have enough food but rely on cheaper, less healthy options because fresh foods are too expensive or hard to find. These lower-cost foods are often high in sugar, fat, and salt, which can increase the risk of health problems. Access to healthy food plays an important role in overall health and well-being.

Food insecurity may be influenced by several factors such as income, employment, transportation options, and disability status. It can be short term or long term and can affect both adults and children. Adults who are food insecure face higher risks of obesity and chronic diseases. Research shows that adults who experience food insecurity are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Children in food-insecure households are more likely to have health and developmental problems and may struggle with mental health.

American Indian/Alaska Native

From 2016 to 2021, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) households were more than twice as likely to experience food insecurity as households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, AI/AN households were over two and a half times as likely to experience very low food security (the more severe range of food insecurity) as households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, AI/AN households with children under 18 years were 92% more likely to experience food insecurity than all U.S. households with children.

For additional data on food insecurity and American Indians/Alaska Natives, please visit our Population Profiles.

Asian American

From 2016 to 2021, Asian American households were 51% less likely to experience food insecurity than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, Asian American households were 63% less likely to experience very low food security (the more severe range of food insecurity) than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, Asian American households with children under 18 years were 55% less likely to experience food insecurity than all U.S. households with children.

For additional data on food insecurity and Asian Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Black/African American

From 2016 to 2021, Black/African American households were 89% more likely to experience food insecurity than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, Black/African American households were 98% more likely to experience very low food security (the more severe range of food insecurity) as households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, Black/African American households with children under 18 years were 73% more likely to experience food insecurity than all U.S. households with children.

For additional data on food insecurity and Black/African Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Hispanic/Latino

From 2016 to 2021, Hispanic/Latino households were 52% more likely to experience food insecurity than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, Hispanic/Latino households were 23% more likely to experience very low food security (the more severe range of food insecurity) than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, Hispanic/Latino households with children under 18 years were 34% more likely to experience food insecurity than all U.S. households with children.

For additional data on food insecurity and Hispanics/Latinos, please visit our Population Profiles.

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

From 2016 to 2021, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHPI) households were 41% more likely to experience food insecurity than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, NHPI households were 19% more likely to experience very low food security (the more severe range of food insecurity) than households nationwide. From 2016 to 2021, NHPI households with children under 18 years were 42% more likely to experience food insecurity than all U.S. households with children.

For additional data on food insecurity and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, please visit our Population Profiles.