Research Program on Senior Food Insecurity

Abstract: Research Program on Senior Food Insecurity Food insecurity among older Americans is a significant threat to public health and nutrition. This research program will consist of two parts to better understand the geographic distribution of food insecurity, and the attendant health consequences. In the first part we will develop a regression-based prediction algorithm to estimate rates of food insecurity among seniors at the county level in the United States for calendar years 2012-2024. This project, based on national survey data from the Current Population Survey Household Food Security Supplement and the American Community Survey, will produce estimates for all counties in the U.S., and will be summarized in a technical report describing methods of analysis and interpretation of results. In the second part, we will produce a report on the health and nutrition consequences of food insecurity among seniors using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for years 1999-2023. The project will span 18 months from January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.