Body Mass Index (BMI): The ratio of weight for height, measured as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017) 

Dietary Energy Intake: The energy content of food consumed. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017) 

Food Deserts: Areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food. (U.S. Department of Agriculture of the United Nations 2012)  

Food Insecurity: A situation that exists when people lack secure access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. It may be caused by unavailability of food, insufficient purchasing power, inappropriate distribution or inadequate use of food at the household level. Food insecurity, poor conditions of health and sanitation, and inappropriate care and feeding practices are the major causes of poor nutritional status. Food insecurity may be chronic, seasonal, or transitory. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017)  

Food Security: A situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Based on this definition, four food security dimensions can be identified: food availability, economic and physical access to food, food utilization, and stability over time. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017) 

Hunger: As used here, the term hunger is synonymous with chronic undernourishment. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017) 

Malnutrition: An abnormal physiological condition caused by inadequate, unbalanced, or excessive consumption of macronutrients or micronutrients. Malnutrition includes undernutrition and overnutrition as well as micronutrient deficiencies. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017) 

Nutrition-Sensitive Interventions: Interventions designed to address the underlying determinants of nutrition (which include household food security, care for mothers and children, and primary health-care services and sanitation) but not necessarily having nutrition as the predominant goal. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2017) 

Health Disparity: “A particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage.” – Healthypeople.gov 

Health Inequity: “Refers to the uneven distribution of social and economic resources that impact an individuals health.” – American Public Health Association 

Social Determinants of Health: “Conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.” – Health.gov

Youth Development: meets the physical and social needs of young people by defining their individual goals and preparing them to achieve their full potential