Food insecurity is a major issue in Canada’s Northern Aboriginal communities. There is evidence that many health problems experienced by Aboriginal peoples are related to food insecurity such as diabetes, dental carries, obesity and cardiovascular disease (Willows, 2005). The issue of food insecurity is important to nursing because nurses work directly with the patients who have these health problems. It is critical that nurses are aware of the implications of food insecurity and different ways in which they can advocate for their patients who face this issue. Having access to nutritious food is required for people to make healthy choices but it is often not available, especially to families in the remote regions of northern Canada (Willows,
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Food insecurity however, is a result of inadequate or uncertain access to healthy food in terms of quality or quantity and is associated with limited financial resources (Fieldhouse & Thompson, 2012). Food insecurity also exists when the ability to acquire nutritious food in socially acceptable ways is limited and includes the fear of not being able to provide or obtain food (Willows, Hanley, & Delormier, 2012). Food insecurity is an important public health issue in Canada because it is associated with a variety of health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, distress, depression, dental carries and anemia (Fieldhouse & Thompson, 2012). These nutrition-related diseases occur when cheap, high-calorie, processed foods are eaten instead of fresh fruits and vegetables and low fat dairy products (Kregg-Byers & Schlenk, 2010). Obesity and risk for chronic disease are more prevalent in Northern Aboriginal populations compared to the Canadian national average and continue to be on the rise in Aboriginal communities (Sharma, …show more content…
The average price of food in northern communities is an average of 57% higher than in the provinces (Ruiz-Castell et al., 2015). It costs more money for the food to be transported to these remote locations therefore, the price of food increases drastically. Food insecurity is more prevalent among families with low occupational status and these families are not able to afford the nutritious, quality food that they need to live a healthy life (Ruiz-Castell et al., 2015). Healthy food is often not available or affordable for families with a low occupational status so they are forced to purchase low-cost, high-calorie foods which will lead to future health problems (Willows et al., 2012). Although people facing food insecurity may be expected to have a reduced food intake and a low likelihood of obesity, research has proven that obesity is often more prevalent among people who are food insecure (Willows et al., 2012). This could be due to the fact that the food that they are able to afford is usually high in sugar and fat which can eventually lead to obesity. Most people living in the north are aware that these foods are not good for their health but they do not have any other affordable option available. Many northern Aboriginal families live in overcrowded households where there are more people that need to be fed and families often have to cut down the size of their
Food insecurity however, is a result of inadequate or uncertain access to healthy food in terms of quality or quantity and is associated with limited financial resources (Fieldhouse & Thompson, 2012). Food insecurity also exists when the ability to acquire nutritious food in socially acceptable ways is limited and includes the fear of not being able to provide or obtain food (Willows, Hanley, & Delormier, 2012). Food insecurity is an important public health issue in Canada because it is associated with a variety of health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, distress, depression, dental carries and anemia (Fieldhouse & Thompson, 2012). These nutrition-related diseases occur when cheap, high-calorie, processed foods are eaten instead of fresh fruits and vegetables and low fat dairy products (Kregg-Byers & Schlenk, 2010). Obesity and risk for chronic disease are more prevalent in Northern Aboriginal populations compared to the Canadian national average and continue to be on the rise in Aboriginal communities (Sharma, …show more content…
The average price of food in northern communities is an average of 57% higher than in the provinces (Ruiz-Castell et al., 2015). It costs more money for the food to be transported to these remote locations therefore, the price of food increases drastically. Food insecurity is more prevalent among families with low occupational status and these families are not able to afford the nutritious, quality food that they need to live a healthy life (Ruiz-Castell et al., 2015). Healthy food is often not available or affordable for families with a low occupational status so they are forced to purchase low-cost, high-calorie foods which will lead to future health problems (Willows et al., 2012). Although people facing food insecurity may be expected to have a reduced food intake and a low likelihood of obesity, research has proven that obesity is often more prevalent among people who are food insecure (Willows et al., 2012). This could be due to the fact that the food that they are able to afford is usually high in sugar and fat which can eventually lead to obesity. Most people living in the north are aware that these foods are not good for their health but they do not have any other affordable option available. Many northern Aboriginal families live in overcrowded households where there are more people that need to be fed and families often have to cut down the size of their