Balancing Acts: Energy Insecurity among Low-Income Babies and Toddlers of Color Increases Food Insecurity and Harmful Health Effects

Energy insecurity compounds the negative effects of food insecurity on child health. “Heat or eat” and “cool or eat” situations further compromise the nutrition of already-vulnerable young children, and increase their risk of health problems in both the short- and long-term. Children of color are at increased risk of experiencing the damaging effects of energy insecurity because their families are disproportionately poor and underserved. This report details Children’s HealthWatch data on energy insecurity among children of color, focusing specifically on Black and Latino children ages 0 to 3.