Data Highlight: Oklahoma is the fifth-most food insecure state. New Hampshire has the lowest rates of food insecurity at 7.8 percent while New Mexico has the highest rate of food insecurity at 16.8 percent.48
Lookbook Vol. 2
Food Insecurity
DEFINITION
A lack of access to a store containing fresh produce within a 10 mile radius if living in a rural area, and 1 mile radius if living in an urban area for 2016-2018.48
OKLAHOMA 15.6 percent
NATIONAL AVERAGE 11.7 percent
Why We Care: While often discussed as a social or economic issue, food insecurity is especially detrimental to women’s health, and can lead to depression, anxiety, and obesity.49 As women earn less than their male counterparts and head more single-headed households with children, women are more likely to experience food insecurity.49 Factors contributing to food insecurity and inconsistent access to food can include lack of grocery stores in the part of town (or nearby) in which you live, lack of transportation, and lack of financial resources.49 Individuals living in food-insecure homes can have anxiety about food as eating patterns can be irregular due to inconsistent access to food. 50 When women are pregnant, food insecurity can cause myriad health problems from iron deficiency to gestational diabetes and low birthweight.49
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What We Can Do: - Separate food programs from public charge rules - Incentivize grocery store development in food desert areas - Create requirements so current chain discount stores must sell fresh produce - Support local and urban farming food growing initiatives
