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- Title
Food Insecurity is Associated with Diabetes Mellitus: Results from the National Health Examination and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002.
- Authors
Sellgman, Hilary K.; Bindman, Andrew B.; Vittinghoff, Eric; Kanaya, Alka M.; Kushel, Margot B.
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: Food insecurity refers to limited or uncertain access to food resulting from inadequate financial resources. There is a clear association between food insecurity and obesity among women, but little is known about the relationship between food insecurity and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there is an independent association between food insecurity arid diabetes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the nationally representative, population-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002 waves). PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand four hundred twenty-three adults >20 years of age with household incomes ≤300% of the federal poverty level. MEASUREMENTS: We categorized respondents as food secure, mildly food insecure, or severely food insecure using a well-validated food insecurity scale. Diabetes was determined by self-report or a fasting serum glucose ≥126 mg/dl. RESULTS: Diabetes prevalence in the food secure. mildly food insecure, and severely food insecure categories was 11.7%, 10.0%, and 16.1%. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and physical activity level, participants with severe food insecurity were more likely to have diabetes than those without food insecurity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.0, p= .02). This association persisted after further adjusting for body mass index (AOR 2.2, 95% Cl 1.2-3.9, p=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity may act as a risk factor for diabetes. Among adults with food insecurity, increased consumption of inexpensive food alternatives, which are often calorically dense and nutritionally poor, may play a role in this relationship. Future work should address how primary care clinicians can most effectively assist patients with food insecurity to make healthy dietary changes.
- Publication
JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2007, Vol 22, Issue 7, p1018
- ISSN
0884-8734
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1007/s11606-007-0192-6