Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165760
Title: HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT HEALTH STATUS

Author
item STUFF, JANICE - DELTA NIRI
item CASEY, PATRICK - DELTA NIRI
item SZETO, KITTY - DELTA NIRI
item GOSSETT, JEFFREY - DELTA NIRI
item ROBBINS, JAMES - DELTA NIRI
item SIMPSON, PIPPA - DELTA NIRI
item CONNELL, CAROL - DELTA NIRI
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2004
Publication Date: 9/10/2004
Citation: Stuff, J.E., Casey, P.H., Szeto, K.L., Gossett, M.M., Robbins, J.M., Simpson, P.M., Connell, C.L., Bogle, M.L. 2004. Household food insecurity is associated with adult health status. Journal of Nutrition. 134:2330-2335.

Interpretive Summary: The Lower Mississippi Delta has rates of food insecurity that are twice the national average. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of food insecurity on health of Lower Mississippi residents. We surveyed a representative sample in 36 counties in the Delta region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Data were collected to measure food security status and self-reported mental, physical, and general health status, using the US Food Security Survey Module and the Short Form 12-item Health Survey. Our findings are reported based on a sample of 1488 households. Adults in food insecure households were significantly more likely to rate their health as poor/fair and had lower scores on physical and mental health scales. After we controlled for other factors, food insecurity status and race remained significant predictors of fair/poor health and lower scores on physical and mental health. This is a landmark study that contributes key findings to our knowledge of the impact of food insecurity status on health. These findings help the public and policy makers understand that reducing food insecurity may also decrease health burden and costs and increase productivity. These findings also encourage clinicians to screen for food insecurity, and will aid communities and researchers to better design interventions that reduce community and household food insecurity.

Technical Abstract: The prevalence of household food security, which reflects adequacy and stability of food supply, has been measured periodically in the U.S. and occasionally in high-risk groups or specific regions. Despite a plausible biological mechanism to suggest negative health outcomes of food insecurity, this relationship has not been adequately evaluated. This study was conducted in the Lower Mississippi Delta region to examine the association between household food insecurity and self-reported health status in adults. A two-stage stratified cluster sample representative of the population in 36 counties in the Delta region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi was selected using list-assisted random digit dialing telephone methodology. After households were selected and screened, a randomly selected adult was interviewed within each sampled household. Data were collected to measure food security status and self-reported mental, physical, and general health status, using the US Food Security Survey Module and the Short Form 12-item Health Survey (SF-12). Data are reported on a sample of 1488 households. Adults in food insecure households were significantly more likely to rate their health as poor/fair and scored significantly lower on the physical and mental health scales of the SF-12. In regression models controlling for income, gender and ethnicity, the interaction between food insecurity status and race was a significant predictor of fair/poor health and lower scores on physical and mental health. Household food insecurity is associated with poorer self-reported health status of adults in this rural, high risk sample in the Lower Mississippi Delta.