Association between children’s food insecurity and a Healthy Eating Index in Portuguese children

Abstract

Abstract Background Evidence on the association between children's food insecurity (FI) and a priori-defined dietary patterns is scarce, particularly in Europe. This study assessed the association between children's FI and a diet quality index in a population-based sample of children. Methods A cross-sectional study including 2800 children from the 10-year-old follow-up of a Portuguese birth cohort, the Generation XXI study, was performed. Data on food security status, assessed by the Self-administered Food Security Survey Module for Children (SAFSSMC), dietary intake, assessed by a validated FFQ, and socio-demographic characteristics were collected. An adaptation of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was used, by including 7 food groups (fruit and vegetables, dairy products, fish and eggs, meat and meat products, sweet snacks, salty snacks and soft drinks) scored from 1 to 4 according to increasing quartiles of daily consumption. For the last 4 groups, a reverse score was assigned. Scores were summed up (the highest the score, the highest diet quality). Linear and logistic regression models (HEI score and its food groups divided by the sample median) were performed. Results The FI prevalence was 9.4%. The median (P25;P75) HEI score was 18.0 (15.0;21.0). Children's FI was inversely associated with diet quality (β=-0.671;95%CI:-1.129;-0.213), independently of maternal education, caregivers' unemployment and child's sex. By using the SAFSSMC raw score, FI increased the odds for lower (below the median) fruit and vegetables intake (OR = 1.069;95%CI:1.002-1.139), and higher intake (above the median) of meat and meat products (OR = 1.075;95%CI:1.011-1.144) and soft drinks (OR = 1.074;95%CI:1.008-1.145), independently of maternal education, caregivers' unemployment, child's sex and the other food groups consumption. Conclusions Food insecure children have poorer diet quality, specifically a lower fruit and vegetables consumption, and higher intake of meat and meat products, and soft drinks. Key messages FI was reported by 9.4% of children, and poorer diet quality was observed among food insecure children, when compared to food secure ones. Public health interventions targeting food insecure children should be developed to promote healthy dietary habits in the context of populations vulnerable to FI.