As Bauer et al. have quite rightly pointed out, children from families who experience food insecurity and who consume a diet that is often lacking in nutritional value are more likely to have poorer health outcomes.1
Food insecurity is a global problem exacerbated by population growth, a lack of available food and water, and climate change.2–5 Consideration needs to be given to the effects of climate change on food production and distribution, and the impact on food security and public health.2–4,6
Changing weather patterns with increasing temperatures, increased rainfall, and extreme weather events will further exacerbate food security as crops are damaged and destroyed.6,7 The production and distribution of food will be adversely affected resulting in reduced availability and accessibility and increased costs.2,4,6 Reduced accessibility to affordable nutritious food could result in an increase in diet-related health problems including obesity and an increased risk of chronic diseases.6
By comparison, Australia’s indigenous people experience similar food insecurities as the Rural American Indian population and are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change on their health.5–7 Many of the Australian indigenous population live in rural and remote areas and have financial insecurity and restricted access to affordable nutritious foods.6 Food is often sourced from community stores where it is usually highly processed and overpriced.6
According to Bauer et al., almost 40% of families who participated in the Bright Start study experienced food insecurity.1 Combine this with the negative effects of climate change, and the implications for health could be severe.6
Adaption to climate change is needed to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience in an effort to offset the impacts on food security and predicted negative health outcomes.6 Bauer et al. identified the need for nutrition education as a mechanism to improve food security1; perhaps climate change and its effects on health should be included as part of this education.
A combination of government leadership and further research into the effects of climate change is needed to provide protection against the predicted effects of climate change on public health.2,5,6
The American Indian people may no longer use the land to grow food,1 but a return to the traditional methods of food production and the introduction of a sustainable agricultural program may be a solution to the predicted worsening of food security through climate change.2,3,6 Perhaps the principles of the Lakota tradition of Ti ole could be introduced into community farming projects.
References
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