Way Too Many People are Food Insecure

n the United States, 16 percent or one in six Americans don’t have access to enough food, including 21.4 percent of U.S. children. In Florida, the situation is even worse, considering 17 percent of adults and 26.7 percent of children are food insecure.

Duval County has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in Florida at 20 percent of all adults. The consequences of food insecurity are profound. According to research performed at the University of North Florida, hungry children have increased behavioral issues and have trouble learning, are more likely to contend with depression and anxiety, and have higher rates of obesity. Adults that don't have access to adequate healthy foods have more issues with mental health and obesity, as well as chronic maladies such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

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