The Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Dietary Patterns, and Obesity

Abstract

Food insecurity is a major public health concern, and refers to the uncertainty, lack of, or inability to acquire nutritious food in a safe and socially acceptable manner. Food insecurity has been associated with obesity and unhealthy dietary patterns, both of which can have negative health consequences. A review of the current literature revealed an adverse association between food insecurity and dietary patterns is well supported. The association between food insecurity and obesity is strongest for women, with results for men and children being mixed. Evidence for long-term effects is limited due to a lack of longitudinal studies. Results from interventional studies have mostly yielded mixed results, and it is presently unclear how to best help food insecure individuals improve diet and weight.

Association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet with food security and weight status in adult women

“…Some variables that associate with food insecurity include loss of food aid, job loss or lack of fixed occupation, age, ethnic minority and low education of the head of household . As summarised in a recent review, food insecurity may lead to weight loss bacause of lack of food or may be obesogenic due to unhealthy diets higher in calorically dense foods . Although the literature shows mixed results, food insecurity without hunger may have a stronger effect to be obesogenic in women than in men .…”

“…As summarised in a recent review, food insecurity may lead to weight loss bacause of lack of food or may be obesogenic due to unhealthy diets higher in calorically dense foods . Although the literature shows mixed results, food insecurity without hunger may have a stronger effect to be obesogenic in women than in men . Furthermore, other risk factors, including hypertension, may be more prevalent in food insecure populations because of decreased nutritional adequacy and dietary diversity .…”

“…9 Although the literature shows mixed results, food insecurity without hunger may have a stronger effect to be obesogenic in women than in men. 9 Furthermore, other risk factors, including hypertension, may be more prevalent in food insecure populations because of decreased nutritional adequacy and dietary diversity. 10 Specifically, several studies have reported that food insecurity is linked to lower Healthy Eating Index scores, 11 because of diets being lower in fruits and vegetables 12,13 and higher in empty calories.…”

Food Insecurity and Health Care Expenditures in the United States, 2011–2013

“…; Wang et al. ; Morales and Berkowitz ). The relationship between food insecurity and chronic disease is likely bidirectional (Seligman and Schillinger ; Berkowitz and Fabreau ): Poor health may make it harder to work, leading to lower income and increasing risk of food insecurity; conversely, food insecurity may incentivize purchases of cheaper but less healthy foods, or trade‐offs between medications and health care to purchase food (Berkowitz, Seligman, and Choudhry ), leading to chronic disease, poor mental health (Heflin, Siefert, and Williams ), and poorer disease self‐management.…”

Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Health in Pregnant Women: Results From the Food for Families Program, Chelsea, Massachusetts, 2013–2015

“…Previous reports have found that food insecurity is associated with the cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and obesity (6,23,24). A previous study of a hypertension intervention that did not address food insecurity found that those experiencing food insecurity did not benefit from the intervention, whereas those who were food secure did (7).…”