Around 12% of the US population experiences some degree of food insecurity. Rates are higher among non-white households, reaching around 20%.

Food Insecurity In United States

There are four main dimensions to what food insecurity looks like for an individual.

- Inadequate energy intake
- Inadequate nutrient intake
- Feelings of impoverishment or restricted choices
- Abnormal meal patters (skipping or size of meal)

Dimensions of Food Insecurity

Researchers believe that there is a relationship between an individuals' food insecurity and mental health. Acute psychological pain, anxiety, shame and depression are just a few examples of mental heath outcomes that could stem from having an unstable food source. Researchers have found that food insecurity is a predictor of poor mental health. They have also found that those who had more access to fruits and vegetables are less likely to experience poor mental health.

The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health

Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.

University of Delaware

the study of the relationship between cognitive decisions about one's nutrition influence once physical and psychological health.

Nutrition Psychology 

Bergmans, R. S., Sadler, R. C., Wolfson, J. A., Jones, A. D., &amp; Kruger, D. (2019). Moderation of the association between individual food security and poor mental health by the local food environment among adult residents of Flint, Michigan. Health Equity, 3(1), 264–274. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2018.0103 

Moderation of the Association Between Individual Food Security and Poor Mental Health by the Local Food Environment Among Adult Residents of Flint, Michigan

There are a variety of motives that play into the dietary choices of adolescents.  Some of these are health motives, self-control, internal motives, and external/social motives.

Adolescents' Attitudes Towards Healthy Eating

While there is much debate about whether depression is primarily caused by psychological or biochemical processes, there is a third viewpoint emerging: depression may be heavily linked to nutritional deficits.  There are four potential links: blood sugar imbalances, lack of amino acids, lack of B vitamins, and lack of essential fats.

The relationship between depression and nutrition

Highly processed food intake results in alterations in positive and negative emotions immediately and up to 1 h after intake; however, these do not persist through 3 h after intake. The ability of highly processed foods to alter emotions may be critical to their reinforcing nature.

Emotional Experiences following Highly Processed Food Intake

What a person eats can have effects on many different aspects of their wellbeing. Researchers have determined that how an individual feels can be a result of the food they have eaten.

Foods Relationship With Wellbeing

Feeding and Eating Disorders are characterized by persistent changes to eating or eating-related behaviors that result in altered consumption or absorption of food, significantly impairing an individual’s physical health and/or psychosocial functioning. 

Feeding and Eating Disorders

* Autism and diet
* ADHD and diet
* Intellectual disabilities and diet

Diet and Disabilities

Health psychology research on nutrition examines how psychological health and diet influence each other. Major areas of study include eating disorders, eating habits and behaviors, relationships between food and emotions, and food insecurity.

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