Food Insecurity in America: Why Millions Go Hungry in the World’s Richest Nation | Prof. Hilary Seligman, UCSF
Premiering October 21 for World Food Day 2025 — just one day before the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases its final annual report on household food insecurity in the United States (Oct 22).
In this episode, host Dr. Jason Arora sits down with Professor Hilary Seligman (UCSF) — one of the world’s leading experts on food insecurity, nutrition policy, and health equity — to uncover why 1 in 7 U.S. households (over 44 million people) struggle to access affordable, nutritious food in the world’s richest nation.
They explore what food insecurity really means, how it fuels chronic disease, why pandemic-era policies worked, and what must happen next to ensure healthy food for all.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction | Why Food Insecurity Matters for World Food Day
01:00 What “Food Insecurity” Really Means — and How It Differs from Hunger
03:00 Prof. Hilary Seligman’s Story — From Patient Encounter to National Policy
05:30 Food Insecurity in the U.S. — Rising Again After Years of Decline
08:40 Defining Food vs. Nutrition Security | Why Both Matter for Health
10:20 The Chronic Disease Connection — Obesity, Diabetes & Heart Disease
11:50 Why It’s Not Just About Money — Marketing, Culture & Convenience
14:00 How Time Pressure and Family Life Shape the American Diet
15:30 Health Impacts Across the Life Course — From Pregnancy to Adulthood
20:00 Recent Policy Shifts in SNAP (Food Stamps) & Nutrition Programs
23:00 Inflation and Rising Food Prices — What Comes Next
24:30 What Works | Evidence-Based Solutions to Food and Nutrition Insecurity
26:30 How You Can Help — Community, Policy & Local Action
28:00 Top Myths About Food Insecurity (And Why They’re Wrong)
31:00 Closing Reflections | Food as Medicine & Hope for the Future
Food is foundational to health. Access to healthy food isn’t charity — it’s healthcare.
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