Survey shows that almost 29% of Arkansans are food insecure

The latest Arkansas Health Survey shows that 28.8% of adults in the state are food insecure, which means they “lack consistent, reliable access to the nutritious food they need for an active, healthy life,” according to a University of Arkansas press release.

The survey, posted Monday (Feb. 16), is a joint effort of the UA and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

The estimated 688,000 adults listed as food insecure are from urban and rural areas of the state, and the number is 10% more than recent reports which already placed the state’s food insecurity as the worst in the nation, according to the report.

The report finds that food insecurity is not evenly distributed. Columbia, Crittenden, Lee, Lincoln, Sebastian and Union counties have adult food insecurity rates of 32% or more.

The report suggests that those who are food insecure are more likely to not receive adequate medical care which results in worsening of chronic physical and mental health issues. That also results in education and work disruption, according to the report.

“When families are concerned about where their next meal is going to come from, it spills over into every other aspect of their life and health,” said Don Willis, an assistant professor in human development and family sciences program in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Based on nearly 10,000 responses, the survey shows researchers and public health officials the prevalence of more than 30 indicators, including  tobacco use, obesity and depression, in each of the state’s 823 census tracts. Arkansas is only the second state, following California, to conduct an in-depth health survey to capture community-level insights at the census-tract level.

Poverty and food insecurity are linked, but resource availability is also a factor, according to survey researchers.

“As researchers, we know poverty and food insecurity are shaped by place — access to resources, services, and support systems change how those hardships are experienced,” Willis said.

Arkansas’ survey will continue to track food insecurity even as the the U.S. Department of Agriculture is ending its food security monitoring efforts. The Arkansas survey will be conducted annually and will provide census-tract level data that can help nonprofits and government agencies better address the issue.

“The Arkansas Health Survey is an example of researchers in our state really stepping up and leading the way,” Willis said. “It can be a model for how other states might want to track and respond to food insecurity. And it’s especially important right now.”

The UA press release noted that the Arkansas survey uses a six-item USDA “survey module” and does not rely on a single-question format.

“Food insecurity is often treated as a simple yes-or-no issue, but the reality is more complex,” said Michael Niño, U of A associate professor of sociology and criminology and the lead researcher for the Arkansas Health Survey.

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