Household food supply is affected by food abundance‐food shortage monthly cycle among food insecure women in Ohio

Abstract

This study assesses the existence of a monthly cycle of food abundance‐shortage among food insecure Caucasian women in Ohio. The study interviewed 29 low income women at the beginning and the end of two continuous months. Household food supply was assessed using a shelf food‐inventory questionnaire with a list of food items common to Ohioan households. Food insecurity was measured by a Household Food Security Module. Body mass index was calculated using measured heights and weights. Differences in the number of food items between the beginning and the end of the months were determined through paired t‐test. Most of the women were classified as overweight or obese (78% and 66%, respectively), and 93% of them were food insecure. The number of food inventory items at the beginning of each month was significantly higher than at the end of the month (Month 1: 83.6 vs. 65.9; Month 2: 83.7 vs. 68.1; p=0.01). With the exemption of oils, the numbers of food inventory items by food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat & beans, and oils) were significantly higher at the beginning of both months. The biggest difference was observed in the meat & beans group (Month 1: 10.3 vs. 6.9; Month 2: 10.4 vs. 7.5; p=0.01). These findings indicate that food insecure households may suffer monthly cycles with drastic decreases of the food supply by the end of the month. Funded by Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (Grant # OHOA1277).Grant Funding SourceOhio Agricultural Research and Development Center