The Spotlight on Senior Health: Adverse Health Outcomes of Food Insecure Older Americans research project, published by Feeding America and the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger, found that food insecurity among individuals age 60 and older living in the United States has a negative impact on seniors’ health, nutrition, and overall well-being. Specifically, according to this publication, food insecure seniors are at increased risk for chronic health conditions. In particular, food insecure seniors are:
60 percent more likely to experience depression,
53 percent more likely to report a heart attack,
52 percent more likely to develop asthma, and
40 percent more likely to report congestive heart failure.

In addition, the study found that food insecure seniors are 22% more likely to experience limitations in their activities of daily living (ADLs), which are those fundamental activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing, that individuals typically can perform independently.