The World Health Organization - Community Empowerment Model in Addressing Food Insecurity in Low-Income...

Numerous researchers have examined the serious consequences of food insecurity and food deserts affecting the nutritional health of poor or low-income African-American women and their families. Food insecurity is defined as having limited or uncertain capacityfor acquiring sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at all times to meet one's dietary needs, while food deserts refer to economically and socially-deprived inner city areas with inadequate food supply that are often inhabited by low-income groups. Researchers have found that despite the capacity of community-level resources such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) supporting healthy nutrition, food insecurity persists among some recipients of both nutritional resources. Both food insecurity and food deserts had a negative effect on the emotional eating, emotional coping, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms in low-income African-American women. Even more concerning is that food deserts have been linked to decreased physical activity in low-income African-American women. Neighborhoods with fewer food supermarkets in which to purchase fresh produce and other healthy nutritious foods also emphasized junk food displays. Thus, neighborhoods with persons that have powerful influences (e.g., local merchants and community liaisons) must bear responsibility to help eliminate food deserts that were linked to obesity, high BMI measures, and Type 2 diabetes in African-American women. Food inse- curity was viewed from the lens of the World Health Organization - Community Empowerment Model (CEM) that incorporates 5 core processes or barometers for change: community coalitions, critical consciousness raising, exerting public pressure, lobbying, advocacy and mediation, and reframing and reorienting health services. Each of the processes plays a powerful role in assisting communities in taking charge of their health and assuming responsibility for improving access to healthy nutritious foods and eliminating food deserts in low-income communities. The implications of change and community involvement rely on all persons with a vested interest in address- ing the disturbing problem offood insecurity and food deserts affecting the nutritional health and well-being of African-American communities.