In 2008, approximately 49 million people, including 17 million children, live in households struggling to put enough food on the table. In over 500,000 households, children skipped meals or ate less than needed because of lack of resources.
Scholars are increasingly discussing the possible correlation between weight status and food insecurity. This association seems paradoxical, since food insecurity results from inadequate resources to purchase enough food and obesity is a consequence of consuming too much. Still, a number of studies have suggested a possible correlation between food insecurity and obesity, especially in women.