The Food Insecurity Experiences Scale (FIES) is an 8-item scale measuring the ability of individuals to access food. This questionnaire was created by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and has been implemented across over 150 countries. Further information about the FIES can be found here.
Geographies Tested:
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adolescents, Adults
1. During the last 12 MONTHS, was there a time when you were worried you would not have enough food to eat because of a lack of money or other resources?
2. Still thinking about the last 12 MONTHS, was there a time when you were unable to eat healthy and nutritious food because of a lack of money or other resources?
3. Was there a time when you ate only a few kinds of foods because of a lack of money or other resources?
4. Was there a time when you had to skip a meal because there was not enough money or other resources to get food?
5. Still thinking about the last 12 MONTHS, was there a time when you ate less than you thought you should because of a lack of money or other resources?
6. Was there a time when your household ran out of food because of a lack of money or other resources?
7. Was there a time when you were hungry but did not eat because there was not enough money or other resources for food?
8. During the last 12 MONTHS, was there a time when you went without eating for a whole day because of a lack of of money or other resources?
Response Options:
Yes - 1
No - 0
Raw scores are calculated by summing item scores. Possible scores vary between 0-8 with higher totals meaning higher levels of food insecurity. The cut-offs for determination of severity of food insecurity vary by country.
Cafiero, C., Viviani, S., & Nord, M. (2018). Food security measurement in a global context: The Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Measurement, 116, 146-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2017.10.065
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