As the country faces accelerating inflation leading to rising food prices, a study has revealed that food insecurity is worsening among Indigenous children and youth who are already disproportionately affected by this phenomenon compared to the rest of the country's population.

"We are currently facing a pressing public health crisis," announced Dr. Véronique Anne Pilletier, a pediatrician at Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal and co-author of the recently published study in PLOS Global Public Health.

To determine the extent of food insecurity among Canadian children from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds, Dr. Pilletier and her co-authors reviewed dozens of medical studies along with reports from Indigenous organizations.

"No other Canadian populations have been affected by the severity of this phenomenon like the Indigenous communities in the country," confirmed Pilletier, who also serves as a pediatric professor at the University of Montreal.

She also mentioned that Statistics Canada classifies food insecurity as moderate when the quality or quantity of food consumed is insufficient. When food insecurity is considered severe, it is because people have decided to reduce their food consumption or their eating habits have been disrupted.

The data gathered by the study showed a disproportionate rate of moderate to severe food insecurity among Indigenous peoples living both on and off reserves. The document stated that individuals living in rural and isolated northern communities are particularly at risk, partly due to high food costs.

Food insecurity has also reached a critical level in some communities, affecting many of the half a million Indigenous children in Canada, especially in isolated northern communities, the pediatrician noted.

He added that the causes are multifactorial. This can range from the imbalance between rising food prices and household income. However, poverty remains a critical factor. The cost and unavailability of healthy foods have led to a shift towards unhealthy foods in the market.

Height reduction in children...

According to Anna Banerjee, a pediatric professor at the University of Toronto and the study's lead author, the situation is extremely precarious for many Indigenous communities. She emphasizes over the phone that there are children and youth who do not have enough food throughout the day.

Ms. Banerjee, who is currently traveling to Iqaluit in Nunavut, stated that food insecurity has harmful consequences for the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of Inuit children in northern Canada.

She also confirmed that malnutrition and hunger have effects on children's height. Children living in households experiencing food insecurity are on average two centimeters shorter than those living in food-secure households.

"The reasons for malnutrition can be due not only to a lack of food but also due to a lack of nutritious and good food," said Dr. Véronique Anne Pilletier.

She added that a number of Indigenous families living in isolated areas cannot purchase essential healthy foods like meats, fish, fruits, and vegetables. These products are perishable, as they do not last long after being transported over long distances.

She also noted that many high-quality foods are too expensive for many Indigenous families, who simply cannot afford them.