The food insecurity―obesity paradox as a vicious cycle for women: inequalities and health

Papan, Andrea S.; Clow, Barbara

doi:10.1080/13552074.2015.1053204

Cited by 17 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…At 12 months postpartum, prevalence of overweight among food insecure mothers was higher than the UK prevalence of 58% in women [ 38 ]. The higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among the food insecure, compared to the food secure, has been observed in other studies [ 14 , 18 ]. Some studies have also found that the relationship between BMI and food insecurity exhibits a U-shaped curve [ 39 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…A relationship between food insecurity and body weight in women has been observed in previous studies, with increased prevalence of both underweight and overweight [ 14 , 17 , 18 ]. This relationship is less clear in children [ 12 , 14 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…This was found among White British, but not Pakistani-origin, mothers and may be due to the level of food insecurity experienced; when we further categorised mothers who were food insecure into ‘food insecure without hunger’ or ‘food insecure with hunger’, more White British mothers were categorised as being ‘food insecure with hunger’. As individuals cope with economic restrictions by shifting food quality, BMI may increase as a result of consuming lower-cost but higher-energy foods; a decrease in BMI could result from worsening food insecurity with a shift towards a very-low food security status where quantity of foods are likely to be affected [ 8 , 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association of food security status with overweight and dietary intake: exploration of White British and Pakistani-origin families in the Born in Bradford cohort

Yang

Sahota

Pickett

et al. 2018

Nutr J

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BackgroundFood insecurity has been associated with dietary intake and weight status in UK adults and children although results have been mixed and ethnicity has not been explored. We aimed to compare prevalence and trajectories of weight and dietary intakes among food secure and insecure White British and Pakistani-origin families.MethodsAt 12 months postpartum, mothers in the Born in Bradford cohort completed a questionnaire on food security status and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) assessing their child’s intake in the previous month; at 18 months postpartum, mothers completed a short-form FFQ assessing dietary intake in the previous 12 months. Weights and heights of mothers and infants were assessed at 12-, 24-, and 36-months postpartum, with an additional measurement of children taken at 4–5 years. Associations between food security status and dietary intakes were assessed using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney for continuous variables and χ2 or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. Quantile and logistic regression were used to determine dietary intakes adjusting for mother’s age. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess longitudinal changes in body mass index (BMI) in mothers and BMI z-scores in children.ResultsAt 12 months postpartum, White British mothers reported more food insecurity than Pakistani-origin mothers (11% vs 7%; p < 0.01) and more food insecure mothers were overweight. Between 12 and 36 months postpartum, BMI increased more among food insecure Pakistani-origin mothers (β = 0.77 units, [95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.40, 1.10]) than food secure (β = 0.44 units, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.55). This was also found in Pakistani-origin children (BMI z-score: food insecure β = 0.40 units, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.59; food secure β = 0.25 units, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.29). No significant increases in BMI were observed for food secure or insecure White British mothers while BMI z-score increased by 0.17 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.21) for food secure White British children. Food insecure mothers and children had dietary intakes of poorer quality, with fewer vegetables and higher consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.ConclusionsFood security status is associated with body weight and dietary intakes differentially by ethnicity. These are important considerations for developing targeted interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12937-018-0349-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Association of food security status with overweight and dietary intake: exploration of White British and Pakistani-origin families in the Born in Bradford cohort

Yang

Sahota

Pickett

et al. 2018

Nutr J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Figure 2 outlines the consequences of household food insecurity and conceptualises how malnutrition affects women. An increased consumption of high energy foods, such as bread or simple carbohydrates, results in reduced nutrient intake and increased levels of obesity for women in households which are food insecure (Martin & Lippert, 2012;Papan & Clow, 2015). This partially explains dietary intake data from developed countries with respect to pregnant women, which revealed they did not reach recommended levels for folate, iron, or vitamin D, despite increased energy intakes reported (Blumfield, Hure, Macdonald-Wicks, Smith, & Collins, 2013).…”

Section: Women and Hidden Hungermentioning

confidence: 99%

Using critical discourse analysis and the concept of food security to understand pregnant women’s nutrition in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Raven¹,

Stewart-Withers²

2019

nzcomjnl

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Background: Increasingly, pregnant women in Aotearoa/New Zealand (Aotearoa) are unable to achieve the dietary intakes recommended by the Ministry of Health (MOH). While health professionals express frustration at "being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff", the continued government response to this public health concern is to "educate women", as per the current mantra of personal responsibility and choice-based rhetoric. Aim: Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), this study examined the discourses regarding nutrition in pregnant women in Aotearoa. Pregnant women's nutrition is further considered within the contexts of food security and empowerment. Method: In July 2017, using 30 documents from three different platforms-media, government and academia-with a focus on Aotearoa, the first author undertook a CDA. Findings: Three key messages were identified: firstly, pregnant women, in not being viewed holistically or relationally, are isolated as being solely responsible for nutrition; secondly, women are positioned as naïve recipients, and achieving a healthy pregnancy requires women to be educated and to adhere to complex food guidelines; and lastly, there is an authoritarian use of fear and monitoring to motivate adherence to guidelines. Thus, women are personally responsible for achieving complex, unrealistic and often unaffordable nutritional targets. Conclusion: The most dominant discourse is one whereby malnutrition is seen as deficit behaviour and thinking by women, and one of self-responsibility, regardless of context. This is very much in keeping with the modus operandi of public health and neo-liberal discourse. We argue, however, this renders silent the fact that malnutrition for some women results more from food insecurity and disempowerment. Midwives need to make audible other less dominant narratives, alongside advocating for woman-centred, policy-based approaches towards nutrition, whereby the underlying drivers of poverty are actively addressed.

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“…While low income is a strong predictor of food insecurity, 6 single parent status, the rising cost of living and unaffordable housing options are forcing individuals, especially women not previously at risk, to reprioritise basic living expenses over food 6,8 . Limited access and consumption of food has been linked to short‐ and long‐term health problems such as: nutrient deficiencies (for example iron and calcium); weight loss or overweight and obesity; poor dental health; type 2 diabetes; and mental health problems 9,10 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerable, single and living in poverty: Women’s challenges to accessing food in the Australian Capital Territory

Lawlis

Devine

Upton

2018

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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Objective: To explore challenges to food access faced by vulnerable women living in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounds. Method:Qualitative study comprising semi-structured interviews supplemented with quantitative demographic data.Results: Forty-one women, mean age of 43 years, living in government and community housing who had an income of <$300 per week participated. A total of 78% of women had completed Year 10 or above and 93% had accessed food from at least one charitable organisation. Women requested greater and reliable access to meat, dairy and quality fruit and vegetables. Primary challenges to accessing food included: limited income, distance to food outlets, lack of nutritious, safe and healthy food, limited knowledge of services and opening hours.Conclusion: Access to safe, nutritious and healthy food is difficult for women living in poverty. Acknowledgement of challenges that contribute to women's food insecurity by all stakeholders is essential to address the problem and build sustainable actions and solutions. Implications for public health:Collaboration from all stakeholders within our food system is required to address current inequities to accessing reliable, nutritious and safe food and to reduce individual food insecurity.

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The food insecurity―obesity paradox as a vicious cycle for women: inequalities and health

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Association of food security status with overweight and dietary intake: exploration of White British and Pakistani-origin families in the Born in Bradford cohort

Association of food security status with overweight and dietary intake: exploration of White British and Pakistani-origin families in the Born in Bradford cohort

Using critical discourse analysis and the concept of food security to understand pregnant women’s nutrition in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Vulnerable, single and living in poverty: Women’s challenges to accessing food in the Australian Capital Territory

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