In the 1980s evidence of rising levels of hunger was a concern for many, but disputed by some, Americans. Acknowledgement and quantification of hunger was hindered by the lack of an accepted definition and measure of hunger. Qualitative research at Cornell provided a conceptual framework, description, definition and survey items for hunger. The Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project developed an instrument used in numerous communities. Based upon these initiatives, widely accepted definitions of hunger and food insecurity, and the US Household Food Security Module for its measurement, now exist. The module classifies households as food-secure, or food-insecure without hunger or with moderate or severe hunger, and contains household-, adult- and child-referent items. Its inclusion in the Current During the past decade, rates of food insecurity and obesity have risen, and an association has been made between these two seemingly paradoxical states. Although this relationship has not been repeatedly seen in men, research suggests a correlation in women. Studies have not been able to consistently show a relationship in children, because findings differ based on age, race/ethnicity, household income, and sex. Several proposed hypotheses explain why a correlation between food insecurity and obesity exists in adults—especially women—but not in children. This review proposes a conceptual framework linking the Food Stamp Program and other coping strategies to the food insecurity–obesity relationship. This link has implications for Food Stamp Program policy changes, welfare reform, and poverty prevention.