Factors Contributing to Food Insecurity in the US

November 30, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the USDA, over 34 million Americans, including 9 million children, are food insecure. Understanding the complex and intersecting factors contributing to food insecurity in the US is crucial for developing effective strategies to address this persistent public health crisis.

Quick Summary

This article explores the major contributing factors to food insecurity in the United States, including economic challenges like low wages and poverty, geographic limitations, health-related issues, and systemic inequities. It outlines how these diverse elements interact to create persistent barriers to consistent and nutritious food access.

Key Points

Economic Instability: Low wages, unemployment, and high living costs are primary drivers of food insecurity by reducing a household’s budget for groceries.
Geographic Barriers: Living in 'food deserts' or rural areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food is a significant contributing factor.
Health and Nutrition: There is a bidirectional relationship where food insecurity can worsen health conditions, and chronic health issues can increase financial strain, limiting food access.
Systemic and Social Inequities: Historical and ongoing discrimination, including practices like redlining, perpetuate cycles of poverty and food insecurity in marginalized communities.
Policy Gaps: Inadequate public assistance programs and strict eligibility requirements can fail to provide a sufficient safety net for those in need.
Access and Transportation: Lack of reliable transportation can be a major barrier, preventing individuals from reaching well-stocked supermarkets.

Economic Factors and Food Insecurity

Economic instability is a primary driver of food insecurity in the US. Low wages, unemployment, and unpredictable work schedules leave many households with insufficient income to cover essential expenses, forcing them to choose between food and other necessities like housing, healthcare, and utilities. This issue is exacerbated by the rising cost of living across the country, where inflation and stagnant wages squeeze household budgets.

Low Wages and Underemployment

A significant portion of the food-insecure population consists of working adults who cannot earn a living wage. This includes individuals in low-paying service industries, who often face unstable work hours and lack access to benefits. A single financial emergency, such as a car repair or medical bill, can deplete a family's limited savings and push them into food insecurity.

High Cost of Living

The high cost of housing and healthcare consumes a disproportionate amount of a low-income family’s budget, leaving little for groceries. This economic pressure forces many to rely on less expensive, calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foods, which can contribute to long-term health problems.

Geographic Barriers and Access

Where people live profoundly impacts their access to healthy food. Areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food are often called "food deserts" or "food swamps." These areas typically have a high concentration of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores but lack full-service supermarkets offering fresh produce and healthy options.

Lack of Transportation

Many low-income individuals and families do not own cars, and public transportation options may be insufficient to reach grocery stores in other neighborhoods. This forces reliance on local, often more expensive, and less healthy options, reinforcing a cycle of poor nutrition and food insecurity.

Urban vs. Rural Access

Food access challenges differ significantly between urban and rural areas. While some urban communities may be food deserts, many rural areas struggle with vast distances to the nearest supermarket, exacerbating transportation issues and reducing access to a wide variety of foods.

Health-Related Factors

An undeniable link exists between poor health and food insecurity, often creating a vicious cycle. Chronic health conditions can increase medical expenses, and the financial strain can reduce a family’s food budget. Conversely, a lack of access to nutritious food can worsen existing health conditions and contribute to new ones, particularly for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

Health Disparities

Systemic issues in healthcare access, particularly for low-income and marginalized communities, further compound food insecurity. Limited access to preventative care and medical treatment can lead to more severe and costly health problems down the line, pulling even more resources away from food purchases.

Systemic and Social Inequities

Historical and ongoing systemic barriers, including racial discrimination and unfair policies, play a significant role in determining who is most likely to experience food insecurity. These inequities create disparities in economic opportunities, wealth accumulation, and access to quality education, which are passed down through generations.

Historical Inequities

Long-standing discriminatory practices, such as redlining, have created a legacy of poverty and disinvestment in minority communities. These practices have limited access to resources, including healthy food options, for generations. Addressing food insecurity requires confronting these historical injustices.

Policy Gaps

Flaws in public assistance programs can also contribute to food insecurity. While programs like SNAP provide a vital safety net, eligibility requirements or insufficient benefits can leave many people struggling. For example, the 20+ hour work requirement for some students to qualify for SNAP can exclude those already struggling to balance academic and financial responsibilities.

Comparison of Key Factors Contributing to Food Insecurity


Factor	Primary Impact	Affected Populations	Potential Solutions
Economic Instability	Reduces disposable income for food purchases.	Low-wage workers, unemployed, gig economy workers.	Increase minimum wage, expand social safety nets, stabilize work schedules.
Geographic Barriers	Limits access to affordable, nutritious food options.	Residents of rural areas and urban food deserts, those without reliable transportation.	Community gardens, farmers' markets, improved public transit, mobile food pantries.
Health Issues	Increases healthcare costs and limits ability to work, creating a cycle of poor health and food insecurity.	Individuals with chronic diseases, elderly, children.	Integrated healthcare and food assistance programs, improved nutrition education.
Systemic Inequities	Creates multigenerational disparities in wealth and opportunity.	Minority communities, historically marginalized groups.	Policy reform, targeted investment in disadvantaged communities, anti-discrimination laws.

Conclusion

Food insecurity in the US is not a simple problem with a single cause; it is a complex issue driven by a combination of economic, geographic, health-related, and systemic factors. The intersection of these elements means that many individuals and families face multiple barriers to consistent and nutritious food access. Addressing food insecurity effectively requires a multi-pronged approach that tackles these root causes simultaneously, including economic reform, community-based initiatives, and systemic policy changes.

For additional insights into the national efforts to combat hunger, one can refer to Feeding America, a leading organization in the fight against food insecurity. Feeding America

Understanding food insecurity

Understanding what are the factors that contribute to food insecurity in the US helps to inform more effective solutions. This widespread issue is deeply rooted in systemic challenges rather than individual failures. By examining the core issues—from poverty and low wages to discrimination and inadequate resources—we can move towards meaningful and sustainable change.

Addressing the multifaceted issue

Recognizing the complexity of the factors contributing to food insecurity is the first step toward creating lasting change. Rather than seeing hunger as a symptom of personal shortcomings, we must reframe it as a consequence of societal failures. This reframing can drive the necessary policy changes and community-based solutions to ensure that every American has access to the food they need to thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the USDA, food insecurity refers to a household's limited or uncertain access to adequate food for a healthy, active life. It is distinct from hunger, which is an individual's physical sensation caused by a lack of food.

Poverty creates a situation where a household's income is insufficient to cover all basic needs, including food. When facing a trade-off between paying rent, a medical bill, or buying groceries, food is often sacrificed, leading to food insecurity.

Food deserts are geographic areas where residents have limited access to affordable and healthy food options, such as full-service supermarkets. This limited access often forces residents to rely on convenience stores, which offer less nutritious and more expensive products.

Yes, many people who are employed still face food insecurity. This is often due to low wages, part-time or unstable work schedules, and a high cost of living that makes it difficult to afford all basic necessities.

Systemic inequities, such as racial discrimination and historical policies like redlining, have disproportionately limited economic opportunities and wealth-building in marginalized communities. These historical factors contribute to persistent disparities in food insecurity rates today.

Without a car, people living far from a supermarket or lacking reliable public transit options face significant barriers to buying affordable, nutritious food. This forces them to purchase food from closer, less healthy, and often more expensive sources.

Chronic health problems can increase a household's financial burden through medical costs, which can then reduce the budget available for food. Poor nutrition due to food insecurity can also worsen existing health issues, creating a vicious cycle.