The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement Friday urging pediatricians to screen for food insecurity and provide information on community resources.
According to AAP, 16 million children do not regularly have access to enough food. These children are more likely to get sick, recover from illness more slowly and be hospitalized more frequently.
To help mitigate food insecurity the organization called on pediatricians to do the following:
1. Use a two-question screening tool to identify food insecurity at checkups.
2. Familiarize themselves with local resources so they can help connect families, and especially new mothers, with the proper resources for their children.
3. Be aware of the nutritional value of the food offered in supplemental programs.
4. Understand the burdens that disproportionately affect food insecure households.
5. Advocate for protecting and increasing access to community resources at the local, state and national levels.
6. Support research on the connection between stress, food insecurity and poor health outcomes.
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