Food Insecurity in Women

Food insecurity means lack of ready, steady access to sufficient nutritious food for an active and healthy life. In 2003, as many as 14 million women were food insecure. Women's roles in managing family feeding make them vulnerable to the consequences of food insecurity. These include inadequate intakes of fruits and vegetables plus associated nutrients and increased risk of obesity. Nutrition and health professionals involved in health promotion programs and dietary counseling with food-insecure mothers need to be aware of the trade-offs between their own and their children's health that these women make.