Food Insecurity Case Study

Dominique is experiencing several risk factors that not only affect her, but also the members of her family. The family, who lives in one of impoverished communities in South Texas, struggles with poverty, poor living conditions, health issues, grapples with extreme hunger, and poor nutrition. In addition, Dominique and the family struggle with buying fresh fruit and area they live in is surrounded with fast food restaurants. She appears to the caretaker in the family, assisting her mother and grandmother, and also helping raising the smaller children. Thus mostly likely increasing added stress to an already difficult period. Furthermore, increasing an additional risk factor for her to establish self-identity into young adulthood. “The concern is that young adults will face a substantial caregiving

The lack of access to healthy and nutritional foods is a cause of the health problems that Dominique’s family experiences. “Food insecurity is a special concern for woman and children. Female-headed households had a food insecurity rate of 30.2 % almost 3 times the national average in the United States” (Chilton M, Rose D. A). The lack of nutritional healthy foods causes chronic health conditions in people. Research also shows that in families without adequate nutrition also suffer from anxiety, depression, along with suicidal ideations or attempts. Small children run the risk of emotional and cognitive impairments and often diminish in productivity while in school. In Dominique’s case study the family has chronic medical issues that will continue over time. Without nutritional food sources the family will continue to struggle to remain healthy. “Food insecurity cost about 90 billion per year increased medical care costs, lost educational attainment, worker productivity, and investment burden to the emergency food system”( Chilton M, Rose D.