Food Insecurity

Why Is This Important?

Inconsistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food can have a negative impact on the health of individuals of all ages. The USDA estimates that in 2023, over 350,000 people, including over 100,000 children, in New Mexico were food insecure. That means 1 in 7 New Mexicans and nearly 1 in 4 children (23.3%) lived in households without consistent access to adequate food. In the US, adults in food insecure households are much more likely than food secure adults to have hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health problems. Although food insecurity is harmful to any individual, it can be particularly devastating among children because they are more vulnerable to potential long-term consequences for their future physical and mental health and academic achievement.

Definition

Food insecurity refers to USDA's measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household's need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods.

Data Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
  (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/)
• U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, modeled and presented in the Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap Report.
  (http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america)
• New Mexico Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program.
  (http://gps.unm.edu/)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

New Mexico's food insecurity rate is higher than the national average but follows a similar pattern. The rate was falling until 2021 and has taken a sharp increase since that year.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

New Mexico has the fourth largest food insecurity rate among all states.

What Is Being Done?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) play a critical role in helping low-income families break out of the cycle of hunger and diet-related disease. Both programs augment households' food budgets, allowing them to purchase more healthful foods, and provide nutrition education to participants.

Other Objectives

New Mexico Community Health Status Indicator (CHSI)

More Resources

[http://map.feedingamerica.org Map of Food Insecurity in The United States]