With the aging of the population worldwide, there is an increasing concern for the mental health status as well as physical health. Depression is a common mental health problem among the elderly populations. Since the elderly are susceptible to food insecurity, this cross-sectional study is aimed to determine an association between food insecurity and depression among elderly people. A total of 220 elderly people- aged 60 years and above, residing in the Petaling district of Selangor, were included in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain the pertinent information on demographic background, food security status (six items USDA FSSM), functional status (IADL, EMS), psychosocial status (LSNS-6), and depression status (GDS-15). Binary logistic regression was used to assess the factors that were associated with depression. The median age of the elderly sample was 65.5 years. The prevalence of depression and food insecurity that was recorded were 13.2% and 19.5%, respectively. Social isolation (AOR = 5.882, 95% CI: 2.221, 15.576), food insecurity (AOR = 3.539, 95% CI: 1.350, 9.279), and unsafe mobility (AOR= 3.729, 95% CI: 1.302, 10.683) increased the odds of depression. In conclusion, social isolation, food insecurity, and unsafe mobility are factors associated with depression among the elderly people. Plans such as health interventions as well as grocery and financial aid among the qualifying elderly are suggested to improve this depression and food insecurity.

Introduction: Adequate, nutritive and safe foods are crucial for growth and healthy living. Adolescents are vulnerable to food insecurity. This study was aimed at determining the demographic factors, food security status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and body weight status of adolescents in Mentakab, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: This study involved 160 households that comprised pairs of mothers and children aged 13-17 years. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the mothers to assess their demographic and food security status (Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument). Meanwhile, the children answered a self-administered HRQOL questionnaire (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, PedsQL). Body weight and height were measured to obtain the body mass index (BMI). Results: About 48.8% of the adolescents were from households with food insecurity. The number of school-going siblings, occupation status of mother, occupation status of father, household income and house ownership status were predictors of food security status (p<0.05). After controlling for covariates, the HRQOL score and BMI were higher in adolescents from food-secure households than adolescents from foodinsecure households (p<0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity was high and multifactorial. Food insecurity was further associated with HRQOL and BMI. Food assistance programmes are recommended to directly alleviate food insecurity. Concurrently, monetary and educational aids are advocated to reduce the economic burden, especially in low-income households.