Food insecurity and gender are risk factors for obesity.

J Nutr Educ Behav

Center for Public Health and Health Policy, University of Connecticut, East Hartford, CT 06108, USA.

Published: March 2007

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Article Abstract

Objective: Examine relationships between adult obesity, childhood overweight, and food insecurity.

Design: Cross-sectional retrospective study.

Setting: Community settings in Hartford, Connecticut.

Participants: Convenience sample of 200 parents and their 212 children, aged 2-12.

Main Outcome Measures: Adult obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] > 30), childhood overweight (BMI-for-age > 95(th) percentile), and household food security (U.S. Department of Agriculture module).

Analysis: Chi-square tests between weight status and socioeconomic characteristics. Multinomial regression analyses to determine risk factors for adult obesity and childhood overweight.

Results: Over half of parents (51%) were obese, and almost one-third of children (31.6%) were overweight. Over half of households were food insecure. Food insecure adults were significantly more likely to be obese as those who were food secure (Odds Ratio [OR]=2.45, p = .02). Being a girl and having an obese parent doubled the likelihood of children being overweight (OR=2.56, P = .01; OR=2.32, P = .03). Children with family incomes below 100% of poverty were half as likely to be overweight as those with higher incomes (OR=.47, P = .05). Food insecurity did not increase odds of childhood overweight.

Conclusions And Implications: Obesity prevention programs and policies need to address food insecurity and gender as key risk factors.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.08.021DOI Listing

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