Household Food Insecurity and Obesity, Chronic Disease, and Chronic Disease Risk Factors

Authors

Janice E. Stuff, USDA ARS Children's Nutrition Research CenterFollow
Patrick H. Casey, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research InstituteFollow
Carol L. Connell, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Catherine M. Champagne, Pennington Biomedical Research CenterFollow
Jeffrey M. Gossett, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research InstituteFollow
David Harsha, Pennington Biomedical Research CenterFollow
Beverly McCabe-Sellers, Delta Nutrition Intervention Research InitiatvieFollow
James M. Robbins, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research InstituteFollow
Pippa M. Simpson, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research InstituteFollow
Kitty L. Szeto, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research InstituteFollow
Judith L. Weber, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research InstituteFollow
Margaret L. Bogle, Delta Nutrition Intervention Research InitiativeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2006

Department

Nutrition and Food Systems

Abstract

Context. Studies examining the association between food insecurity and obesity in adults have produced conflicting results, and information is limited on the relationship between food insecurity and adult chronic health conditions, particularly in a high-risk population.

Objective. To examine the association between household food insecurity and self-reported weight status and chronic disease in the Lower Mississippi Delta.

Design. A two-stage stratified cluster sample representative of the population in 36 counties in the Lower Delta. Data were collected in a cross-sectional telephone survey using list assisted random digit dialing telephone methodology.

Setting and Participants. A randomly selected sample of 1,457 adults from a free-living population.

Main Outcome Measures. US Food Security Survey Module, self-reported height and weight status (obesity = body mass index > 30 kg/m²), and self-reported hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and a marker for metabolic syndrome.

Results. In food-insecure adults, 42.3% were obese, a significantly higher rate than food secure adults (33.2%). After controlling for demographic variables, food insecurity was not independently associated with obesity. Income and the interaction between race and gender were significant predictors of obesity. Food insecure adults were significantly more likely to report hypertension (45.1% vs. 29.5%) diabetes (15.0% vs. 9.3%), heart disease (13.5% vs. 6.8%) and metabolic syndrome (10.1% vs. 4.4%). After controlling for demographic variables, food insecurity was associated with high cholesterol (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.65; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.0 to 2.7), heart disease (OR 2.7; 95% CI, 1.5 to 4.8), and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.5).

Conclusions. The relationship between food insecurity and obesity in a high-risk population, may be due to income and demographic variables. Individuals in a rural high-risk population with high cholesterol, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome have a high likelihood of being food-insecure. Nutritional interventions targeting high-risk populations should address food insecurity.

Publication Title

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition

Volume

1

Issue

2

First Page

43

Last Page

62

Recommended Citation

Stuff, J. E., Casey, P. H., Connell, C. L., Champagne, C. M., Gossett, J. M., Harsha, D., McCabe-Sellers, B., Robbins, J. M., Simpson, P. M., Szeto, K. L., Weber, J. L., Bogle, M. L. (2006). Household Food Insecurity and Obesity, Chronic Disease, and Chronic Disease Risk Factors. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 1(2), 43-62.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/16362