Economic Predictors of Household Food Insecurity in Canadian Metropolitan Areas

Abstract

In Canada, household food insecurity is largely an urban problem, but there is little understanding of how the conditions in urban areas influence households[#x02019] vulnerability. The present study used data on 42 355 households from the 2011[#x02013]2012 Canadian Community Health Survey to examine the influence of local area economic characteristics on household food insecurity in 20 census metropolitan areas. Substantial variability in food insecurity rates was observed across metropolitan areas, with part of this variation being attributed to differences in costs of living. Higher area-level shelter costs were associated with elevated household food insecurity risk, independent of household sociodemographic characteristics. This finding suggests that strategies to ensure affordable housing can mitigate the burden of household food insecurity at a local level.