Grineski SE, Morales DX, Collins TW, Rubio R. Transitional dynamics of household food insecurity impact children’s developmental outcomes. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 2018; 39(9):715-722. Web.
The quantitative survey studied the effect of transitional facets of family food insecurity on children’s development using a longitudinal study on early childhood. Grineski et al. found that deep food insecurity risked a child’s working memory and self-control while marginal shortage influenced interpersonal skills. Authors also report that persisting (0.071, p<.05) and emerging (0.146, p<.01) food shortages were detrimental to externalizing behaviors among children. Grineski et al. argued that Kindergarten is a crucial stage in socioemotional development and requires the most stable environment, including food. Lack of enough food impacts stress on children to prevent proper adaptation to the surrounding with adverse developmental outcomes.
Grineski et al. results resonate with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics [AND] position through empirical data exposing the danger of food insecurity on child development. The article provides the role of different types of food shortage and shows their relationship with children health needs. Such data is essential to establish why food access is not a choice but a necessity for population health.
Kenney EL, Barrett JL, Bleich SN, Ward ZJ, Cradock AL, Gortmaker SL. Impact of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on obesity trends: Study examines impact of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 on childhood obesity trends. Health Aff. 2020; (7):1122-9. Web.
Kenney et al. tested the effectiveness of The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which increased funding for child nutrition and school meal programs to enhance access to nutritional food among children from low socioeconomic status families. Outcomes showed that the program prevented obesity prevalence by 47% within 15 years of its implementation. In addition, the risk of obesity among students from low-income families vulnerable to the illness declined by around 9% per annum. Kenney et al. associated the improvement in danger to health with adjustment in diet. The researchers concluded the effectiveness of meal programs in managing nutrition-related illness following increased access.
The source echoes the AND stand by demonstrating that food access programs are operative preventive measures for chronic disease among children. Kenney et al. provide statistics to show the contribution of food access intervention in managing health such as obesity to support the idea of government involvement. The information is vital in demonstrating the benefit over risks in federal funded diet projects in low-income households.
Kral TV, Chittams J, Moore RH. Relationship between food insecurity, child weight status, and parent‐reported child eating and snacking behaviors. J. Spec. Pediatr. Nurs. 2017; 22(2):e12177-e12189. Web.
Kral et al. investigated the link between household food insecurity, child snacking and eating behaviors and weight status while comparing food insecure and secure families. Results showed that the chances of being obese for children with food shortages were five times more than those in food-secure ones [95%CI: 1.15, 20.8]. Furthermore, children experiencing food insecurity were more likely to have external eating. For example, eat after they were full, restricted feeding to manage weight and at least five snacks a day, higher than those from food secure families who took at most four. Authors argued that external cues control children’s eating behaviors in food shortage households, leading to excess energy with an impact on weight gain.
The source supports AND position by providing evidence on the health risk of children experiencing food insecurity. Study outcomes indicate that lack of enough food attracts poor nutrition and diet, negatively affecting physical health. As a result, ensuring access would control improper feeding practices to control energy intake and avoid obesity.
Parekh N, Ali SH, O’Connor J, Tozan Y, Jones AM, Capasso A, Foreman J, DiClemente RJ. Food insecurity among households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a study among social media users across the United States. Nutr. J. 2021; 20(1):1-1. Web.
Parekh et al. researched the pervasiveness of food insecurity in families with children in the US during the Covid-19 pandemic. The online survey used the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey to measure and score severity. Results indicate that 14.1% of the respondents were food insecure. Households with children were more likely to experience food insecurity among the identified group. Further outcomes revealed that families with children had a higher chance of encountering low income and education with a high unemployment rate. The authors conclude that food insecurity in the US is real and has become serve following the Covid-19 with risks of chronic illnesses such as obesity among children.
The article backs AND stance on the need for federally funded diet and nutrition programs to increase access by exposing the current state of food insecurity. Results show the burden people have in feeding their children and insights about risks of sleeping hungry or getting inappropriate and unsafe diet. The statistics are crucial in supporting the argument on the need to increase access to healthy and safe food by demonstrating the prevalence of insecurity which implies unsafe and inadequate nutrition.
Rabie MF, Osman SR, Ao-Rahma AH. Impact of nutrition education program based on nutritional assessment of adolescent in Assiut -Egypt. JHMN. 2019; 58: 85-93. Web.
Rabie et al. used a quasi-experimental design to assess adolescents’ food habits and nutritional status and the effect of a diet educational program. The outcome showed that at least 40% of the adolescents were anemic, with authors associating the illness with unhealthy eating. The population was also obese at the rate of 15.1%. According to Rabie et al., the obesity and overweight burden could be due to the transition to urban with changes in diet and culture. Further results indicate that the adolescent knowledge on health was low before the intervention and high after the program. The control group sustained their limited knowledge and attitudes toward health.
The source defends the AND viewpoint on nutrition education for adolescents y revealing the level of ignorance and its impact. The authors provide the prevalence of low awareness about health impact and the precipitating factor that leads to chronic disease risks. The empirical statistics support the need to sensitize adolescents to prevent some diet-related illnesses. The authors also show the worth of such training programs in changing attitudes to justify their cost-benefit.