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

NFN Bitesize #3: Response to Food Insecurity During Pregnancy - Antenatal Healthcare System

Using a mixed-methods approach, Julia Zinga's PhD research program aimed to answer the question: “How can the antenatal healthcare system respond to food insecurity during pregnancy?”. 

Working alongside Deakin University researchers, Julia’s research has explored the views and experiences of key stakeholders involved in the management of food insecurity within the hospital setting, including pregnant women, antenatal clinicians, and hospital leadership, with the aim to establish effective, sensitive and feasible responses to food insecurity during pregnancy.  

Julia Zinga is a clinical dietitian at Australia's first and largest standalone women's health service, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne and recent PhD graduate at Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia), focusing on food insecurity as a determinant of health during pregnancy.

NFN Bitesize #2: Preliminary Qualitative Findings - UK's Food, Pregnancy, and Me study

In this NFN Bitesize episode, Ella and the team share preliminary findings from 24 interviews conducted as part of the NIHR‑SPHR‑funded Food, Pregnancy and Me research study. The interviews explored experiences of food insecurity, coping mechanisms, and perceived barriers and enablers to support. The early findings highlight the multidimensional nature of food insecurity, spanning systemic, sociocultural, and structural factors. Stigma emerged as a pervasive theme shaping participants’ experiences and help‑seeking. Ongoing analysis will support the research team to identify urgent priorities for integrated public health and maternity care policy.

Learn more about the study at: https://sphr.nihr.ac.uk/food-pregnancy-and-me/

NFN Bitesize #1: Finding Formula - Confronting Insecurities

In this NFN Bite Size, Professor Lesley Frank shares some bites about the Finding Formula - Confronting Insecurities project currently underway at the Fed Family Lab funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council that used interviews with finding formula Facebook group administrators, a cross-national survey, and a digital ethnography to exploring how mothers, and other caregivers from the United States and Canada experience, think about, and cope with financial constraints and formula shortages when feeding infants. This project is also exploring the economic and commercial shocks that create food insecurities in early life and the levers necessary for prevention.

Professor Lesley Frank is a Professor of Sociology at Acadia University, Canada. ORCiD