Food insecurity takes a toll on Houston's health , per new Kinder survey
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Nearly two out of five households in Houston and Harris County have unreliable access to sufficient, quality food — and they are more likely to have worse physical health, according to new report from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Why it matters: Food insecurity doesn't just mean empty pantries — it's tied to worse physical health and barriers to medical care, per the study that surveyed 5,200 local residents.
By the numbers: Residents in households without sufficient access to quality food are more than twice as likely to rate their health as "poor" or "fair."
- 63% report having a chronic health condition, with women more likely than men to experience cardiovascular, metabolic or respiratory illnesses.
- 30% are uninsured — double the rate of food-secure households.
- Most uninsured residents living in food-insecure households earn less than $35,000 a year, and the majority are Hispanic. Many also reported delaying or skipping medical care because of cost or lack of coverage.
Threat level: As costs climb and benefits decline, families are being forced to choose between paying bills, buying groceries and covering medical needs.
What they're saying: "Food insecurity doesn't happen in isolation — it's tightly linked to health, well-being and access to care," Luz Garcini, director of the institute's Center for Community and Public Health and associate professor of psychological sciences, wrote in a statement.
- "When people are forced to choose between food and medical care, it takes a toll on their health and their futures."