Food Insecurity and Increased BMI in Young Adult Women

Abstract

Food insecurity has been associated with weight status in children and adults although results have been mixed. We aimed to identify whether food insecurity was associated with BMI in young adults and whether this association differed by gender and was modified by food stamp use and the presence of children in the home. Cross-sectional data from Wave 4 (2007–2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were analyzed. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association between food insecurity and BMI in gender stratified models of young adult women (n=7116) and men (n=6604) controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income, education, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, the presence of children in the home, and food stamp use in young adulthood and/or adolescence. Food insecurity was more common in young adult women (14%) than young adult men (9%). After controlling for a variety of individual variables, food insecure women had a BMI that was on average 0.9kg/m2 units higher than women who were food secure. This difference in BMI persisted after controlling for recent or past food stamp use and was not different among women with or without children in the household. No relationship was found between food insecurity and BMI in young adult men. Providers should inquire about food insecurity, especially when treating obesity, and policy initiatives should address the role of access to healthy food in those facing food insecurity.

Food insecurity and dyslipidemia in a representative population-based sample in the US

“…This result is consistent with the findings of at least one other study based on NHANES data that found a significant association between intermediate-level food insecurity (e.g., marginal food security and low food security) and high LDL-C, high triglycerides/HDL-C ratio, and high triglycerides only among women (Tayie and Zizza, 2009). While reasons for these gender differences are not entirely clear, they are consistent with the findings from our own study as well as from previous studies showing that food insecurity is associated with obesity only among women (Dinour et al, 2007; Gooding et al, 2012; Townsend et al, 2001). It is possible that women experiencing food insecurity make different nutritional choices than men in the same situation.…”

“…Also, a paradoxical relationship between food insecurity and increased obesity has been observed in the U.S. adult population, especially among women (Dinour et al, 2007; Gooding et al, 2012; Holben and Pheley, 2006; Laraia et al, 2010; Townsend et al, 2001). It has been hypothesized that food insecurity predisposes individuals to chronic disease by inducing unhealthy dietary behaviors, such as reducing dietary variety and giving preference to a few low-cost, energy-dense, and nutritionally poor foods (Seligman and Schillinger, 2010).…”

Food Insecurity Is Associated with Obesity among US Adults in 12 States

“…Previous longitudinal and cross-sectional studies suggested that food insecure women are more likely to be overweight or obese 10,[31][32][33] ; however, research on the association between food insecurity and obesity has produced mixed results among men. 14 Although two studies found a positive association in men, 13,33 the majority of studies suggested no evidence for such a direct link.…”

The impact of cumulative family risks on various levels of food insecurity

“…Previous studies has treated poor health, anxiety, depression, and obesity as outcomes of food insecurity and found a positive association between food insecurity and health outcomes among adult women (Adams et al, 2003;Gooding et al, 2012;Heflin et al, 2005;Lee et al, 2012;Olson, 2005;Siefert et al, 2001;Tarasuk, 2001;Townsend et al, 2001;Whitaker et al, 2006). Further, research indicates that there is a bidirectional relationship between maternal depression and food insecurity among rural, low-come families (Huddleston-Casas et al, 2009).…”