scholarly journals Quality of diet related to food insecurity and food stamps use among older people

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria F Montoya ◽  
Andre W Hite ◽  
Patricia Rohrbeck ◽  
Binky Bawa ◽  
Oladayo O Akinwolemiwa ◽  
...  

We explore the association between quality of diet and food security status among older persons. Cross-sectional survey of large national samples, from the National Health & Nutrition Examination Surveys (1988-1994 & 2001-2002), in the United States. A total of 5,039 and 2,040 men and women aged 60 and older, respectively. The dependent variable was the healthy eating index (HEI; 2000 and 2005) as a measure of diet quality. The independent variable of interest was food security status and was categorized as food secure, food insecurity receiving food stamps and food insecurity not receiving food stamps. In multivariate analyses, food insecure individuals not receiving food stamps had lower total HEI-2000 scores compared to food secure individuals (b=-3.91, SE=1.81, P=0.0310). Factors independently associated with high HEI (2000 or 2005) scores were female gender, being married, highly educated or wealthy, with very good/ excellent perceived health, or without functional limitations. Food secure individuals had better quality of diet than food insecure individuals. Among food insecure individuals, receiving food stamps was not associated with diet quality. Food insecure families with older individuals may need new methods of dissemination of food and nutrition programs – methods that yield positive and promising changes in the health status of this special population group.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Eicher-Miller ◽  
Breanne Wright ◽  
Patricia Guenther ◽  
Lacey McCormack ◽  
Suzanne Stluka ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Food provided by food pantries has the potential to improve the dietary quality of pantry clients. This study evaluated the relationship between the nutritional quality of food pantry inventories and client food bags (separately) with client diet quality, and how these relationships varied by food security status. Methods This cross-sectional secondary analysis drew from a multi-state intervention that included adults (n = 618) from 24 rural, Midwestern food pantries. Participants completed a demographic and food security assessment and up to three 24-hour dietary recalls on non-consecutive days. Food types and amounts in pantry inventories, client food bags, and clients’ diets were coded using the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies and scored using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010). All foods were assumed to be in their as-consumed form. Multiple linear regression models determined associations between HEI-2010 total and component scores for pantry inventories or client food bags (in separate models) and the corresponding scores for client dietary intake with the interaction of client food security status and adjustment for potential confounders. Results Client food-bag HEI-2010 scores were positively associated with client dietary scores for the Total Vegetables, Total Fruit, Total Protein Foods, and Sodium components, but not for the total score. Inventory scores were negatively associated with client scores for the total score and Total Fruit and Fatty Acids components. The association of client food-bag Whole Grains score with the corresponding dietary score was greater for clients with very low food security compared to those who were food secure. The association of inventory Greens and Beans score with the corresponding dietary score was greater for clients with very low food security compared to those with low food security (All results, P < 0.05). Conclusions The nutritional quality of food bags was positively associated with client diet quality for several components, whereas inventory quality was negatively associated with client diet quality overall. Strength of associations differed by food security status. Funding Sources This project was supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Hatch Project grants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1007-1007
Author(s):  
Katelin Hudak ◽  
Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm ◽  
Tiange Liu ◽  
Sara Benjamin-Neelon

Abstract Objectives Food insecurity has been associated with poor diet-related health in women, but few prior studies focused on the postpartum period—a particularly important time for the health of women and children. We examined associations between food security and maternal diet quality in a racially diverse cohort of postpartum women. We further assessed whether participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) modified this potential relation. Methods We examined 363 women in central North Carolina from the Nurture study (2013–2017). We computed maternal food security status using the 10-item USDA food security survey module at 3 months postpartum. We calculated Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI) scores (range of 0 to 100) and component scores from food frequency questionnaires completed at 6 months postpartum. We conducted multiple linear regression examining associations between food security status (high, marginal, low, and very low) and AHEI, adjusting for age, race, education, marital status, number of children, breastfeeding, and total calories. We assessed WIC and SNAP as potential effect modifiers. Results Among women, 64.4% were Black and had a mean (standard deviation, SD) age of 28.2 (5.9) years. Nearly half (45.7%) had a high school diploma or less. Of women, 21.3% had low or very low food security. Mean (SD) AHEI score was 41.5 (11.3). We found no evidence of an interaction between food security and WIC or SNAP so we adjusted for both. In adjusted models, food security status at 3 months postpartum was not associated with AHEI (data not shown) at 6 months postpartum. However, low (ß: −0.64; 95% CI: −1.15, −0.13; P = 0.01) and very low (ß: −0.57; 95% CI: −1.02, −0.13; P = 0.01) food security were associated with a less healthy score for trans fat intake. Conclusions Food security status was not associated with overall diet quality in postpartum women. However, food insecure women showed higher consumption of trans fats. Future research should evaluate interventions to alleviate food insecurity in postpartum women, and assess whether these interventions lead to improved diet quality. Funding Sources National Institutes of Health.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Chong ◽  
Geeta Appannah ◽  
Norhasmah Sulaiman

Socioeconomic status and nutrition knowledge are the determining factors of food choices. However, their relationship with diet quality is ambiguous among aboriginal women in Malaysia. Henceforth, the objective of this study was to examine diet quality and its predictors among the aboriginal women from the Mah Meri ethnic group in Malaysia. Data on socioeconomic characteristics, nutrition knowledge, and 24-h dietary recalls were obtained through face-to-face interviews with the respondents. Household food insecurity was assessed using Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument. The Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was used to measure the diet quality of this population. The overall diet quality of the respondents was poor, with a mean Malaysian HEI score of 45.3%. Household income (r = 0.242, p < 0.001) and nutrition knowledge (r = 0.150, p < 0.05) were positively correlated with diet quality. More importantly, the predictors of diet quality were marital status (β = 0.181, p < 0.01), household income (β = 0.237, p < 0.001), food security status (β = −0.151, p < 0.01), and fat intake (β = −0.438, p < 0.001). Women being married and those with higher household income was associated with a better diet quality among Malaysian aborigines.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (suppl) ◽  
pp. 27s-37s ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Melgar-Quinonez ◽  
Michelle Hackett

Measuring household food insecurity represents a challenge due to the complexity and wide array of factors associated with this phenomenon. For over one decade, researchers and agencies throughout the world have been using and assessing the validity of variations of the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Supplemental Module. Thanks to numerous studies of diverse design, size, and purpose, the Household Food Security Supplemental Module has shown its suitability to directly evaluate the perceptions of individuals on their food security status. In addition, challenges and limitations are becoming clearer and new research questions are emerging as the process advances. The purpose of this article is to describe the development, validation procedures, and use of the Household Food Security Supplemental Module in very diverse settings. The most common Household Food Security Supplemental Module related studies have been conducted using criterion validity, Rasch modeling and Cronbach-Alpha Coefficient. It is critical that researchers, policy makers, governmental and non-governmental agencies intensify their efforts to further develop tools that provide valid and reliable measures of food security in diverse population groups. Additional work is needed to synthesize a universally applicable tool able to capture the global human phenomenon of food insecurity.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3891
Author(s):  
Elizabeth C. Gearan ◽  
Kelley Monzella ◽  
Leah Jennings ◽  
Mary Kay Fox

Prior research has shown that participation in the United States’ National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is associated with consuming higher-quality lunches and diets overall, but little is known about differences by income and race/ethnicity. This analysis used 24 h dietary recall data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study to examine how NSLP participation affects the diet quality of students in different income and racial/ethnic subgroups. Diet quality at lunch and over 24 h was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010, where higher scores indicate higher-quality intakes. HEI-2010 scores for NSLP participants and nonparticipants in each subgroup were estimated, and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to determine whether participant–nonparticipant differences in scores within each subgroup were statistically significant. NSLP participants’ lunches received significantly higher total HEI-2010 scores than those of nonparticipants for lower-income, higher-income, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black students, suggesting that participating in the NSLP helps most students consume healthier lunches. These significantly higher total scores for participants’ lunch intakes persisted over 24 h for higher-income students and non-Hispanic White students but not for lower-income students or students of other races/ethnicities. For NSLP participants in all subgroups, the nutritional quality of their 24 h intakes was much lower than at lunch, suggesting that the positive influence of the NSLP on their overall diet quality was negatively influenced by foods consumed the rest of the day (outside of lunch).


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Moore ◽  
Torrey Alexis ◽  
Jayna Dave ◽  
Derek Miketinas ◽  
Tzu-An Chen

Abstract Objectives To determine how food insecurity is associated with overall diet quality in college students following the implementation of a new food scholarship program. Changes of Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and food security status were compared over a 10-week period. Methods A new food scholarship program at Texas Woman's University in Houston provided students fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat products, as well as non-perishable foods twice monthly. The Houston Food Bank donated all foods. Baseline and 10-week data were collected. Food security was measured with the USDA 6-item short form of the Food Security Survey Module. Total HEI-2015 and component scores were calculated from analysis of 3-day food records and compared by paired t-tests. ANCOVA estimated the impact of food security (high, low, very low) on HEI post scores, controlling for HEI baseline scores, age, gender, and race. Results Participants (n = 49) were primarily female (n = 38, 78%) with an average age of 28 ± 8 years. Ethnic/race distribution was 49% White, 27% Asian, 20% Black, and 4% other. Participants were primarily single (76%). Food security was low (31.9%) or very low (19.1%) at baseline; at post-test, participants reporting very low food secure dropped to 15.6%. Total HEI-2015 scores at baseline (55.9 ± 11.54) did not increase significantly after 10 weeks (57.7 ± 10.63) (P = 0.298). However, after 10 weeks, total vegetable scores significantly increased (2.64 ± 1.39 to 3.19 ± 1.33) (P = 0.023). There was no significant food security group effect (P = 0.49); however, there was a positive association between age and HEI post scores independent of the other model effects (β = 0.59 + 0.17; P = 0.001). Conclusions HEI-2015 total vegetable component scores increased with implementation of a food scholarship program. Nevertheless, many college students remained food insecure and overall diet quality needs improvement. Funding Sources Food donated by the Houston Food Bank.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1451-1460
Author(s):  
Tamara Y Mousa ◽  
Jeanne H Freeland-Graves

AbstractObjectiveTo discern the impact of food donations provided by a food pantry and soup kitchen on food security.DesignIn this cross-sectional study, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, core food security module, FFQ and list of food donations. The FFQ was utilized to assess diet quality as estimated via the 2010 Healthy Eating Index.SettingClients were selected randomly from a food pantry and soup kitchen in Central Texas, USA.ParticipantsA total of 222 adults.ResultsApproximately 73 % of participants lacked food security. Compared with the food secure, the food insecure consisted of 61 % men, 42 % Caucasians, 56 % single and 67 % homeless. Also, of the food insecure, 60 % were soup kitchen clients and 64 % had an annual income <$US 1000 (P<0·01). The probability of food insecurity was reduced by ≥1·17-fold when the total dietary intake included the food donations, as these were rich in fruits, total vegetables and grains, dairy and protein foods (P<0·05).ConclusionsFood insecurity was quite prevalent in this sample of individuals who visited food pantries and soup kitchens. The addition of food donations improved the quality of the participants’ total diet and had a positive influence on food security. Thus, community organizations should financially support these food assistance agencies and strive to offer a variety of healthy and tasty foods in adequate quantities to provide optimum diet quality.


2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1089-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Engelhard ◽  
Matthew P. Rabbitt ◽  
Emily M. Engelhard

This study focuses on model–data fit with a particular emphasis on household-level fit within the context of measuring household food insecurity. Household fit indices are used to examine the psychometric quality of household-level measures of food insecurity. In the United States, measures of food insecurity are commonly obtained from the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM, 18 items) of the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS). These measures, in various forms, are used to inform national programs and policies related to food insecurity. Data for low-income households with children from recent administrations of the HFSSM (2012-2014) are used in this study ( N = 7,324). The results suggest that there are detectable levels of misfit with Infit mean square error (MSE) statistics ranging from 6.73 % to 21.33% and Outfit MSE statistics ranging from 5.31% to 9.68%. The data suggest for Outfit MSE statistics that (a) male respondents, (b) respondents with lower levels of education, and (c) respondents who did not report participating in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly the Food Stamp Program) tend to have more misfit. For Infit MSE statistics, lack of homeownership appears to be a predictor of misfit. The implications of this research for future research, theory, and policy related to the measurement of household food insecurity are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devendra Raj Singh ◽  
Saruna Ghimire ◽  
Eva M Jeffers ◽  
Sunita Singh ◽  
Dhirendra Nath ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Food insecurity is a critical public health challenge, in particular in low and middle-income countries. Nepal, a low-income country, is undergoing rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions with a growing population of senior citizens. However, the determinants of food security status among Nepali senior citizens are still unknown. This study aims to fill this gap focusing on the elderly populations in the far-western region, one of the poorest regions of the country. The study also aims to assess the potential impact of adult child migration on the food security status of the left behind elderly parents. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly selected senior citizens in the Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal. The short form of the household food security scale, originally developed by the United States Department of Agriculture, was used to measure household food security. Associations were examined by means of logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity, in senior citizens’ households, was 41.1%. Senior citizen households with their adult children’s migration (AOR= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.24- 0.98) had lower odds of being food insecure and households with lower family income (<$100 compared to ≥ $100) (AOR= 2.24, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.65) had two times higher odds of being food insecure. Also, households owning a cultivable land/farm (AOR= 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05-0.37) and involved in agriculture (AOR= 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.99) or business (AOR= 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.74) had lower odds of being food insecure. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among households with senior citizen in Kanchanpur district was high and associated with migration status of adult children, household income and ethnicity. This calls for a greater policy response focused specifically on the households with elderly citizens and integration of gerontological evidence into the existing food security and nutrition strategies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Gutierrez ◽  
Kimberly Fine ◽  
Meg Bruening ◽  
Corrie Whisner ◽  
Rebecca Lee

Abstract Objectives To examine the relationship between acculturation and diet quality of preschoolers in the Phoenix area. There is little research on how the dietary intake of preschoolers outside of the home is impacted by parental acculturation in food secure and insecure households. Methods This study was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of the SAGE (Sustainability via Active Garden Education) research project. SAGE provides education on gardening, physical activity, and nutrition to preschoolers in Phoenix, AZ. Preschoolers (Mean age 53.1 + 3.5 mos; n = 154) were recruited from early care and education centers (ECEC). Acculturation was evaluated using a parent-report validated survey on a scale of 1–5 (1 = low acculturation). Parents also reported sociodemographic variables (child sex, age, ethnicity, and family income) and household food security status (dichotomized as food secure or insecure). Meals were observed by trained research staff at the ECEC for one full day (breakfast, lunch, snack) and recorded using the Nutrition Data System for Research. Linear regressions examined the relationship between acculturation and diet quality (total kcal, fruits, vegetables, saturated fat, added sugar intake) adjusting for sociodemographics and household food security status. Results A total of 78.6% of preschoolers in this study were Hispanic. Of the 154 children, 52.6% and 47.4% were male and female, respectively. The mean acculturation score was 3.0 + 1.3 with 41.8% of the sample being food insecure. Higher acculturation was significantly associated with increased vegetable (β = 0.095, P = 0.028) and saturated fat intake (β = 1.001, P = 0.018). Acculturation trended an association with increased kcal intake (β = 47.475, P = 0.053). Conclusions Results suggest parent acculturation is associated with healthy and unhealthy eating habits in preschoolers outside of the home regardless of food security status. When evaluating diet quality of preschoolers, acculturation needs to be assessed to promote improved health behaviors, especially in relation to saturated fat and vegetable intake. Funding Sources This study was funded by the Maternal Child Health Bureau and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document