NFN Bitesize #4: Water Insecurity – An Overlooked Driver of Food Insecurity and Poor Health in the First 1,000 Days

In this NFN Bitesize, Dr. Joshua Miller shares how his interests in nutrition led to his focus on water. Early in his research on food insecurity, caregivers consistently described water problems as shaping what, when, and how they fed themselves and their families – yet no tools existed to comparably measure water insecurity. He introduces a working definition of water insecurity that parallels food insecurity, along with the Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales, which measure common experiences of water problems and yield scores that are comparable across settings.

Drawing on studies spanning diverse global contexts, Josh shows that water insecurity is consistently associated with greater food insecurity, less diverse diets, and poorer mental well-being, with important implications for health and development during the first 1,000 days. These challenges extend to high-income countries, too, where distrust of drinking water shapes what families drink and eat. He closes with three priorities: measure water and food insecurity together, monitor both systematically to identify who is left behind, and design interventions that address food and water security concurrently.

Dr Joshua D. Miller is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University at Buffalo, USA, with an appointment in the Center for Climate Change and Health Equity. ORCiD