A systematic review examining the relationship between food insecurity and early childhood physiological health outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1086-1097
Author(s):  
Shannon Deirdre Simonovich ◽  
Maria Pineros-Leano ◽  
Asma Ali ◽  
Olanrewaju Awosika ◽  
Anne Herman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Food insecurity, or limited access to nutritious foods, is a significant public health concern especially among vulnerable populations including infants and young children in low-income households. While literature to date has thoroughly examined the psychological and behavioral impacts of food insecurity on children, no known study to date has specifically synthesized the literature exploring the relationship between food insecurity and physiological health outcomes during early childhood. The purpose of this study was to review the literature on physiological health outcomes associated with food insecurity during early childhood among children aged 0–5 years in developed countries. Our literature search sources included PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Embase databases. A total of 657 articles published up to September 2019 were reviewed for eligibility by two coders, with a third reviewer in cases of disagreement. Eighty-three articles remained after screening by abstract, with a final 27 studies ultimately included in the final synthesis. This review is registered with PROSPERO and adhered to PRISMA guidelines. In total, 20 articles (74%) noted significant relationships between food insecurity and physiological health outcomes in young children. Findings included an association with overweight or obesity (n = 9), anemia (n = 3), poor child health (n = 3), low birth weight (n = 3), chronic illness (n = 1), special health care needs (n = 1), and increased cortisol (n = 1), in young children who experience food insecurity. Identifying relationships between food insecurity and health outcomes during early childhood has the potential to inform future prevention interventions to reduce health disparities in these vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals Food insecurity, acculturation and diagnosis of CHD and related health outcomes among immigrant adults in the USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D Smith ◽  
Alisha Coleman-Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Angina Pectoris ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractObjective:To deepen understanding of the relationship between food insecurity, acculturation, and diagnosis of CHD and related health outcomes among immigrant adults.Design:Using cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey 2011 to 2015, we address two research questions. First, what is the relationship of household food insecurity and acculturation with: CHD, angina pectoris, heart attack, self-rated poor health and obesity? Second, what is the association of food insecurity with these health outcomes over years of living in the USA? We estimate multivariate logistic regressions without (question 1) and with (question 2) an interaction term between food insecurity and acculturation for CHD and related health outcomes.Setting:USA.Participants:Low-income immigrant adults.Results:Food insecurity and acculturation are both associated with diagnosis of CHD and related health outcomes among immigrant adults. Food insecurity and acculturation are associated with the health of female immigrants more than males. Also, the differences by food security status in the probability of having several poor health outcomes (self-rated heath, obesity, women’s angina pectoris) are largest for those in the USA for less than 5 years, decrease for those who have lived in the USA for 5–14 years, and are larger again for those in the USA for 15 or more years.Conclusions:Recent and long-term food-insecure immigrants are more vulnerable to CHD and related health outcomes than those in the USA for 5–14 years. Further research is needed to understand why.

scholarly journals Health Inequalities in the Diverse World of Self-Employment: A Swedish National Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12301
Author(s):  
Karl Gauffin ◽  
Andrea Dunlavy
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
The Self ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Regular Employment ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
The Relationship

With labor being a central social determinant of health, there is an increasing need to investigate health inequalities within the heterogenous and growing population in self-employment. This study aimed to longitudinally investigate the relationship between income level, self-employment status and multiple work-related health indicators in a Swedish national cohort (n = 3,530,309). The study investigated the relationship between self-employment status and health outcomes later in life. All poor health outcomes, with the exception of alcohol-related disorders, were more common in the self-employed population, compared to the group in regular employment. The income gradient, however, was more pronounced in the group with regular employment than the groups in self-employment. The study found clear connections between low income and poor health in all employment groups, but the gradient was more pronounced in the group in regular employment. This suggests that income has a weaker connection to other types of health promoting resources in the self-employed population. Potentially, lacking social and public support could make it difficult for unhealthy individuals to maintain low-income self-employment over a longer time period.

scholarly journals Mediators of Food Insecurity and Obesity in Female Heads-of-Household with Children

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Emily Havrilla
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Heads Of Household ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Self Efficacy

Background: The prevalence of obesity is a significant issue in the United States. Among vulnerable populations, obesity exists in the presence of household food insecurity; however the mechanisms of the relationship are not well understood. General perceived stress and general self-efficacy were evaluated as mediators of the relationship between food insecurity and obesity in female heads-of-household with children. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design with mediation model testing was used. Subjects (N = 86) were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Core Food Security Module (CFSM), the General Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (SES). Body mass index and waist –to-hip circumference were calculated from measured data. Results: Significant relationships were found between food insecurity and general perceived stress, general perceived stress and obesity, and general self-efficacy and obesity. Mediation models’ testing was not completed due the lack of a significant correlation between food insecurity and obesity. Post hoc analysis was completed using bootstrapping and a revised mediation model process. Conclusion: General perceived stress and general self-efficacy are associated with obesity in female heads-of-household with children who are food insecure. Keywords: Food insecurity, Obesity, Stress, Self-efficacy, Vulnerable populations, Quantitative research, Socioeconomic factors

Comparing the Effects of Unsustainable Production and Consumption of Food on Health and Policy Across Developed and Less Developed Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 1011-1035
Author(s):  
Josue Mbonigaba
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
High Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Less Developed Countries ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Production And Consumption

The unsustainable food consumption across high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LICs) is expected to differ in nature and extent, although no formal evidence in this respect has been documented. Documenting this evidence is the aim of this chapter. Specifically, the chapter seeks to answer the following questions: 1) Do the contexts in less developed countries (LDCs) and developed countries (DCs) make the nature and extent of unsustainability in food consumption different? 2) Do the mechanisms of the linkage between unsustainability of food consumption and health outcomes independent of countries' contexts? 3) Are current policies against unsustainable food consumption equally effective in DCs and LDCs? These questions are answered by means of a systematic review of the literature for the period 2000-2017. The findings are that the nature and extent of unsustainability is quite different across contexts of LICs and HICs.

scholarly journals Examining the Association between Food Literacy and Food Insecurity

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Begley ◽  
Ellen Paynter ◽  
Lucy Butcher ◽  
Satvinder Dhaliwal
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Literacy Programs ◽  
Food Literacy ◽  
Apparent Prevalence ◽  
Dietary Behaviours ◽  
Program Content ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Determine Effect

Poor food literacy behaviours may contribute to food insecurity in developed countries. The aim of this research was to describe the apparent prevalence of food insecurity in adults at enrolment in a food literacy program and to examine the relationship between food insecurity and a range of independent variables. Individuals attending the Food Sensations® for Adults program in Western Australia from May 2016 to April 2018 completed a pre-program questionnaire (n = 1433) indicating if they had run out of money for food in the past month (food insecurity indicator), frequency of food literacy behaviours, selected dietary behaviours, and demographic characteristics. The level of food insecurity reported by participants (n = 1379) was 40.5%. Results from multiple logistic regression demonstrated that behaviours related to planning and management, shopping, preparation, and cooking were all statistically independently associated with food insecurity, in addition to soft/soda drink consumption, education, employment status, and being born in Australia. The results are salient as they indicate an association between food literacy and food insecurity. The implications are that food insecure participants may respond differently to food literacy programs. It may be necessary to screen people enrolling in programs, tailor program content, and include comprehensive measures in evaluation to determine effect on the impact of food literacy programs on different subgroups.

Addressing Food Insecurity and Overweight/Obesity in Hospitalized Low-Income Latino Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-248
Author(s):  
Trina Lorraine Gipson-Jones ◽  
Bertha L. Davis ◽  
Ché Matthew Harris
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Hospital Utilization ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Disease Risks

Food insecurity (FI), the limited or unreliable availability of safe and nutritious food, is a pressing public health concern affecting millions of U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, FI tends to impact those who are most vulnerable (e.g., low-income minorities) and potentially increases obesity risks, diet-sensitive disease risks (e.g., hypertension and type 2 diabetes), and hospital utilization. Low-income Latino patients may be particularly sensitive to adverse outcomes based on unaddressed socioeconomic needs. Nurses are in a prime position to assess and address FI in these patients. Our article will discuss how nurses can be advocates in combating FI in Latino patients with overweight/obesity.

scholarly journals Neighborhood and Parental Influences on Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors in Young Low-Income Pediatric Patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (13) ◽  
pp. 1235-1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nakiya N. Showell ◽  
Katie Washington Cole ◽  
Katherine Johnson ◽  
Lisa Ross DeCamp ◽  
Megan Bair-Merritt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Dynamic Relationship ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Racial Ethnic

This study explores the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and caregiver preferences for establishing diet and physical activity behaviors among low-income African American and Hispanic young children (2-5 years). Primary caregivers of young children were recruited from 2 urban pediatric clinics to participate in focus groups (n = 33). Thematic analysis of transcripts identified 3 themes: neighborhood constraints on desired behaviors, caregivers’ strategies in response to neighborhoods, and caregivers’ sense of agency in the face of neighborhood constraints. This study elucidates the dynamic relationship between neighborhoods and caregiver preferences, their interrelated impacts on establishment of diet and physical activity behaviors among young children, and the important role of caregiver agency in establishing behaviors among young children. To effectively address obesity disparities among young children, primary care behavioral interventions must leverage and support such resilient caregiver responses to neighborhood constraints in order to optimally address racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in obesity among young children.

scholarly journals Overweight and Obesity Epidemic in Developing Countries: A Problem with Diet, Physical Activity, or Socioeconomic Status?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trishnee Bhurosy ◽  
Rajesh Jeewon
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Obese Individual ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern

Obesity is a significant public health concern affecting more than half a billion people worldwide. Obesity rise is not only limited to developed countries, but to developing nations as well. This paper aims to compare the mean body mass index trends in the World Health Organisation- (WHO-) categorised regions since 1980 to 2008 and secondly to appraise how socioeconomic disparities can lead to differences in obesity and physical activity level across developing nations. Taking into account past and current BMI trends, it is anticipated that obesity will continue to take a significant ascent, as observed by the sharp increase from 1999 to 2008. Gender differences in BMI will continue to be as apparent, that is, women showing a higher BMI trend than men. In the coming years, the maximum mean BMI in more developed countries might be exceeded by those in less developed ones. Rather than focusing on obesity at the individual level, the immediate environment of the obese individual to broader socioeconomic contexts should be targeted. Most importantly, incentives at several organisational levels, the media, and educational institutions along with changes in food policies will need to be provided to low-income populations.

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