Food Insecurity and Eating Behavior Relationships Among Congregate Meal Participants in Georgia

Abstract

This study explored relationships of food insecurity with cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating behaviors among congregate meal participants in northeast Georgia [n = 118, age 60 and older, mean (SD) age = 75 (8) years, 75% female, 43% Black, 53% obese (BMI ≥ 30)]. Food insecurity was assessed with a 6-item questionnaire scores ranged from 0 to 6 and were defined as high or marginal food security, FS, 0–1 (70%); low food security, LFS, 2–4 (20%); very low food security, VLFS, 5–6 (10%); and low and very low food security, LVLFS, 2–6 (30%). Eating behavior was assessed with an 18-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R-18. In bivariate analyses food insecurity was consistently associated with cognitive restraint scores above the median split and to a lesser extent with uncontrolled eating scores (p ≤ 0.05). No association was found between emotional eating and food insecurity. In multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses, food insecurity was consistently associated with cognitive restraint (p ≤ .05) even when controlled for potential confounders (demographics, BMI and chronic diseases). Food insecurity was also associated with uncontrolled eating (p ≤ .05), but the relationship was attenuated when controlled for potential confounding variables. Although cognitive restraint is defined as the conscious restriction of food intake to control body weight or promote weight loss, these findings suggest there may be other dimensions of cognitive restraint to consider in nutritional assessment and interventions among food insecure older adults.

Obesity and Eating Disturbance: the Role of TFEQ Restraint and Disinhibition

“…As expected, Disinhibition was found to be detrimentally associated with diet quality [14, 36] and self-determination in relation to eating behavior [37]. In addition, the amalgamated Disinhibition and Hunger factors of UE and EE are also positively associated with energy and fat intake [27], possessing a diagnosis of diabetes and responding to food insecurity in older adults [38]. Together, these suggest a behavioral profile which is detrimental to weight regulation and maintaining good health.…”

Health Indicators of US Older Adults Who Received or Did Not Receive Meals Funded by the Older Americans Act

“…Older Blacks and Hispanics have more than twice the rate of food insecurity as compared to NHW [ 26 ]. A greater proportion of restricted eating was reported for Blacks who had food insecurity and who were obese as compared to their White counterparts [ 27 ]. In an earlier study, investigators reported that a higher percentage of older adults with food insecurity were obese (37%) as compared to older adults, nationally (23%) [ 28 ].…”

Association between food insecurity and emotional eating in Latinos and the mediating role of perceived stress

“…Several studies have shown a positive association between stress and EE (12)(13)(14) . However, only three studies have examined the relationship between food insecurity and EE (15)(16)(17) . These studies focused mainly on women and were not specific to Latinx populations.…”