![]() |
|
|

Nutrition Department, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8669;
*
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany;
Nutrition Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802; and
**
Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813
3To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. E-mail: mstownsend{at}ucdavis.edu.
Although individuals with poor food security might be expected to have reduced food intake, and thus reduced body fat and less likelihood of being overweight, these associations have not been adequately studied. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and overweight as measured by body mass index (BMI) using data from the nationally representative 19941996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). Overweight was defined as BMI >27.3 kg/m2 for women and 27.8 kg/m2 for men. Food insecurity was related to overweight status for women (n = 4509, P < 0.0001), but not for men (n = 4970, P = 0.44). Excluding the 11 severely insecure women, the prevalence of overweight among women increased as food insecurity increased, from 34% for those who were food secure (n = 3447), to 41% for those who were mildly food insecure (n = 966) and to 52% for those who were moderately food insecure (n = 86). Food insecurity remained a significant predictor of overweight status, after adjustment for potentially confounding demographic and lifestyle variables (P < 0.01). In a logistic regression analysis, mildly insecure women were 30% more likely to be overweight than those who were food secure [odds ratio (OR) 1.3, P = 0.005]. Thus, food insecurity had an unexpected and paradoxical association with overweight status among women with a higher prevalence of overweight among the food insecure, and a resulting potential for increased incidence of obesity-related chronic diseases. Given that the rates of both overweight and food insecurity are on the rise, this research area warrants further investigation.
KEY WORDS: overweight obesity food security food insecurity food insufficiency humans
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
D. E. Alley, B. J. Soldo, J. A. Pagan, J. McCabe, M. deBlois, S. H. Field, D. A. Asch, and C. Cannuscio Material Resources and Population Health: Disadvantages in Health Care, Housing, and Food Among Adults Over 50 Years of Age Am J Public Health, November 1, 2009; 99(S3): S693 - S701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Widome, D. Neumark-Sztainer, P. J. Hannan, J. Haines, and M. Story Eating When There is Not Enough to Eat: Eating Behaviors and Perceptions of Food Among Food-Insecure Youths Am J Public Health, May 1, 2009; 99(5): 822 - 828. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M.-C. Yeh, A. Viladrich, N. Bruning, and C. Roye Determinants of Latina Obesity in the United States: The Role of Selective Acculturation J Transcult Nurs, January 1, 2009; 20(1): 105 - 115. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Feinberg, P. L. Kavanagh, R. L. Young, and N. Prudent Food Insecurity and Compensatory Feeding Practices Among Urban Black Families Pediatrics, October 1, 2008; 122(4): e854 - e860. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A.-A. Lyons, J. Park, and C. H. Nelson Food Insecurity and Obesity: A Comparison of Self-Reported and Measured Height and Weight Am J Public Health, April 1, 2008; 98(4): 751 - 757. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Isanaka, M. Mora-Plazas, S. Lopez-Arana, A. Baylin, and E. Villamor Food Insecurity Is Highly Prevalent and Predicts Underweight but Not Overweight in Adults and School Children from Bogota, Colombia J. Nutr., December 1, 2007; 137(12): 2747 - 2755. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. M. Candib Obesity and Diabetes in Vulnerable Populations: Reflection on Proximal and Distal Causes Ann. Fam. Med, November 1, 2007; 5(6): 547 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
O. M. Palacios, J. Nicholls, R. Green, and G. D. Miller Invited Editorial: The Importance of Dairy Foods in Helping Impoverished People in the United States J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2007; 90(11): 4917 - 4923. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. C. Whitaker and A. Sarin Change in Food Security Status and Change in Weight Are Not Associated in Urban Women with Preschool Children J. Nutr., September 1, 2007; 137(9): 2134 - 2139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Tarasuk, L. McIntyre, and J. Li Low-Income Women's Dietary Intakes Are Sensitive to the Depletion of Household Resources in One Month J. Nutr., August 1, 2007; 137(8): 1980 - 1987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. L. Hanson, J. Sobal, and E. A. Frongillo Gender and Marital Status Clarify Associations between Food Insecurity and Body Weight J. Nutr., June 1, 2007; 137(6): 1460 - 1465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. McLaren Socioeconomic Status and Obesity Epidemiol. Rev., May 2, 2007; (2007) mxm001v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Kim and E. A. Frongillo Participation in Food Assistance Programs Modifies the Relation of Food Insecurity with Weight and Depression in Elders J. Nutr., April 1, 2007; 137(4): 1005 - 1010. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. E. Wilde Measuring the Effect of Food Stamps on Food Insecurity and Hunger: Research and Policy Considerations J. Nutr., February 1, 2007; 137(2): 307 - 310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Engler-Stringer and S. Berenbaum Exploring Food Security With Collective Kitchens Participants in Three Canadian Cities Qual Health Res, January 1, 2007; 17(1): 75 - 84. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. B. Ebbeling, M. N. Pearson, G. Sorensen, R. A. Levine, J. R. Hebert, J. A. Salkeld, and K. E. Peterson Conceptualization and Development of a Theory-Based Healthful Eating and Physical Activity Intervention for Postpartum Women Who Are Low Income Health Promot Pract, January 1, 2007; 8(1): 50 - 59. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. H. Casey, P. M. Simpson, J. M. Gossett, M. L. Bogle, C. M. Champagne, C. Connell, D. Harsha, B. McCabe-Sellers, J. M. Robbins, J. E. Stuff, et al. The Association of Child and Household Food Insecurity With Childhood Overweight Status Pediatrics, November 1, 2006; 118(5): e1406 - e1413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. C. Whitaker and S. M. Orzol Obesity Among US Urban Preschool Children: Relationships to Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2006; 160(6): 578 - 584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A. Mendoza, A. Drewnowski, A. Cheadle, and D. A. Christakis Dietary Energy Density Is Associated with Selected Predictors of Obesity in U.S. Children J. Nutr., May 1, 2006; 136(5): 1318 - 1322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. E. Wilde and J. N. Peterman Individual Weight Change Is Associated with Household Food Security Status J. Nutr., May 1, 2006; 136(5): 1395 - 1400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Gibson Long-Term Food Stamp Program Participation Is Positively Related to Simultaneous Overweight in Young Daughters and Obesity in Mothers J. Nutr., April 1, 2006; 136(4): 1081 - 1085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. J. Jones and E. A. Frongillo The Modifying Effects of Food Stamp Program Participation on the Relation between Food Insecurity and Weight Change in Women J. Nutr., April 1, 2006; 136(4): 1091 - 1094. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Rose and J. N. Bodor Household Food Insecurity and Overweight Status in Young School Children: Results From the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Pediatrics, February 1, 2006; 117(2): 464 - 473. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. A. Laraia, A. M. Siega-Riz, C. Gundersen, and N. Dole Psychosocial Factors and Socioeconomic Indicators Are Associated with Household Food Insecurity among Pregnant Women J. Nutr., January 1, 2006; 136(1): 177 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Normen, K. Chan, P. Braitstein, A. Anema, G. Bondy, J. S. G. Montaner, and R. S. Hogg Food Insecurity and Hunger Are Prevalent among HIV-Positive Individuals in British Columbia, Canada J. Nutr., April 1, 2005; 135(4): 820 - 825. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. L Kaiser, M. S Townsend, H. R Melgar-Quinonez, M. L Fujii, and P. B Crawford Choice of instrument influences relations between food insecurity and obesity in Latino women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2004; 80(5): 1372 - 1378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. T. Cook, D. A. Frank, C. Berkowitz, M. M. Black, P. H. Casey, D. B. Cutts, A. F. Meyers, N. Zaldivar, A. Skalicky, S. Levenson, et al. Food Insecurity Is Associated with Adverse Health Outcomes among Human Infants and Toddlers J. Nutr., June 1, 2004; 134(6): 1432 - 1438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. A. Oberholser and C. R. Tuttle Assessment of Household Food Security Among Food Stamp Recipient Families in Maryland Am J Public Health, May 1, 2004; 94(5): 790 - 795. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Gibson Long-Term Food Stamp Program Participation is Differentially Related to Overweight in Young Girls and Boys J. Nutr., February 1, 2004; 134(2): 372 - 379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. C Gulliford, D. Mahabir, and B. Rocke Food insecurity, food choices, and body mass index in adults: nutrition transition in Trinidad and Tobago Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2003; 32(4): 508 - 516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. J. Jones, L. Jahns, B. A. Laraia, and B. Haughton Lower Risk of Overweight in School-aged Food Insecure Girls Who Participate in Food Assistance: Results From the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, August 1, 2003; 157(8): 780 - 784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. A. Frongillo Understanding Obesity and Program Participation in the Context of Poverty and Food Insecurity J. Nutr., July 1, 2003; 133(7): 2117 - 2118. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Gibson Food Stamp Program Participation is Positively Related to Obesity in Low Income Women J. Nutr., July 1, 2003; 133(7): 2225 - 2231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. J. Adams, L. Grummer-Strawn, and G. Chavez Food Insecurity Is Associated with Increased Risk of Obesity in California Women J. Nutr., April 1, 2003; 133(4): 1070 - 1074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. T. Vozoris and V. S. Tarasuk Household Food Insufficiency Is Associated with Poorer Health J. Nutr., January 1, 2003; 133(1): 120 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. E. Peterson, G. Sorensen, M. Pearson, J. R. Hebert, B. R. Gottlieb, and M. C. McCormick Design of an intervention addressing multiple levels of influence on dietary and activity patterns of low-income, postpartum women Health Educ. Res., October 1, 2002; 17(5): 531 - 540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Sarlio-Lahteenkorva and E. Lahelma Food Insecurity Is Associated with Past and Present Economic Disadvantage and Body Mass Index J. Nutr., November 1, 2001; 131(11): 2880 - 2884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Alaimo, C. M. Olson, and E. A. Frongillo Jr Low Family Income and Food Insufficiency in Relation to Overweight in US Children: Is There a Paradox? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, October 1, 2001; 155(10): 1161 - 1167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||