What is it about?

Food insecurity means not having enough food to eat. A difficult childhood can be one reason why you suffer food insecurity later in life. In this study, researchers talked to people who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect in childhood. This has affected their mental and physical health. These health problems make it difficult for people to hold down a job. This means they cannot afford nutritious food. People often feel embarrassed that they cannot afford food. This means they are less likely to seek help.

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Why is it important?

We need to tackle the root causes of food insecurity, for example, the issues of childhood trauma, abuse and neglect. We cannot just tackle the end result, food insecurity, by itself. We need to break the cycle by taking steps such as: 1. Provide support for individuals and families affected by trauma: This might involve implementing trauma-informed care practices in schools, hospitals, and other community settings, as well as providing access to mental health services and other forms of support. 2. Implement policy interventions to improve access to healthy food: This might include initiatives like expanding access to affordable healthy food in underserved communities, increasing funding for food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and supporting local agriculture and food production. 3. Address social inequalities: Addressing social inequalities that contribute to poverty and food insecurity is a crucial component of any comprehensive approach to these issues. This might involve implementing policies to address income inequality, improving access to education and job training, and promoting policies that support affordable housing. 4. Increase public awareness and engagement: Increasing public awareness of the link between childhood adversity and food insecurity is an important step in addressing these issues. This might involve media campaigns, community events, and other forms of public education.

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This page is a summary of: The relationship between childhood adversity and food insecurity: ‘It’s like a bird nesting in your head’, Public Health Nutrition, January 2015, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s1368980014003036.
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