Household Food Insecurity is Associated with Obesity in Mexican Children

Abstract

Food insecurity has been found to be prevalent in obese individuals in different populations, but the information has been inconsistent. The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to assess the association between household food insecurity and mother's food insecurity during her childhood with the presence of obesity in school‐aged children living in a rural community of Queretaro, Mexico. Weight, height and body composition (DEXA) were measured in 300 children (8.4 y ±1.5). Food insecurity was measured with a modified 17‐item version of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) and a 6‐item maternal past food insecurity scale. Prevalence and OR from a multinomial regression model were estimated. Overall, 60% of the children lived in a household with some degree of food insecurity and 90% of the mothers had past food insecurity during her childhood. Prevalence of severe food insecurity was significantly higher in children with obesity (20%), compared with children with overweight (6%) or normal weight (5%) (p<0.05). Children with food insecurity were four times more at risk of obesity than secure children (p<0.05). In this population, no association was found between maternal past food insecurity and childhood obesity (p=0.930). In conclusion, household food insecurity, but not mother's past food insecurity, is associated with obesity in Mexican children. This study contributes to a better understanding of the impact food insecurity might have in the health and nutritional status of children, which is essential for policy makers and program designers attending vulnerable populations.