High Food Security Research Articles

Reassessing the Burden of Food Insecurity in Youth and Young Adults With Youth-onset Diabetes: The Importance of Marginal Food Security

ObjectivesMarginal food insecurity has been recognized as important in Canadian food security policy, but the category of marginal food security (MFS) is often ignored in food security research in the United States. MethodsThe prevalence of food insecurity was estimated according to the conventional and an alternate classification of MFS with food insecurity among 938 youth and young adults (YYA) with youth-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 156 with youth-onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) from the SEARCH Food Security Cohort Study (2018–2021). Multivariable regression was used to estimate the association of MFS and conventionally defined food insecurity ascertained with diabetes-related outcomes, including acute diabetes complications, health-care utilization, and diabetes self-management among YYA with T1D. ResultsMFS affected 10% of participants with T1D and 20% of those with T2D. Classifying MFS with food insecurity increased the prevalence of food insecurity from 18.0% to 27.8% in participants with T1D and 34.6% to 55.1% in those with T2D. Compared with those with T1D having high food security, YYA with T1D who were food insecure had a greater odds of hypoglycemia (odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 3.6) and ketoacidosis (1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.6), but no association was seen for MFS. The food insecurity group also had an increased odds of emergency department utilization (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5 to 3.4) and hospitalization (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5 to 3.9), and a decreased odds of technology use (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.9) and checking glucose (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.6). The MFS group exhibited similar associations. ConclusionHealth-care providers should consider care of patients with T1D and MFS the same way they care for patients with food insecurity.

Piloting Home Produce Delivery to Improve Food Security, Budget, and Diet in Families with Children: A Mixed-Methods Study

BackgroundFew children in food insecure (FI) households meet dietary recommendations for fruit and vegetables (“produce”). Barriers include affordability, accessibility, and desirability. Home produce delivery may reduce FI, increase produce consumption, and decrease budget tradeoffs. ObjectiveEvaluate the acceptability and potential impact of delivering produce through home visiting programs on FI, diet, and budget tradeoffs. MethodsIn this prospective pre/post mixed methods study, 51 parents engaged in home visiting programs were enrolled. Participants completed pre- and post-program surveys on FI (18-item Food Security Scale), produce consumption, and budget tradeoffs. Pre- and post-surveys were compared using McNemar’s test and weighted kappas. Interview guides were based on Social Cognitive Theory and a previously published framework. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish; thematic analysis was completed. ResultsTwenty-nine (56.9%) participants completed both surveys. Most were female (96.3%) and Hispanic (79.3%) (Table 1). Food security improved in the post-period, with more participants reporting high food security (pre: 6.9%, post: 31.0%) and fewer reporting very low food security (pre: 20.7%, post: 6.9%, P<0.01) (Table 2). Budgetary tradeoffs decreased in the post-program period (pre: 71.4%, post: 48.1%, P = 0.03). Fifteen participants were interviewed. Themes included 1) saved money, 2) increased fruit and vegetable consumption, and 3) interest in future participation. ConclusionThis pilot study found that an intervention for delivery of produce through home visiting programs was acceptable to participants and resulted in potential improvements in FI and household budgets. This supports future studies to further explore the impact of this novel intervention.

Long COVID and the Higher Risk of Food Insecurity Among Participants and Nonparticipants of Food Assistance Programs in the United States

BackgroundIn the aftermath of the COVID-19 public health emergency, it is important to understand the extent of socioeconomic burdens of long COVID, defined as continuation of symptoms after initial infection, including food insecurity. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the association between long COVID and family food insecurity among low-income individuals (or any of their family members living with them) who were participants and nonparticipants in public food assistance programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC], and National School Lunch Program [NSLP]) in the United States. DesignThe study used an observational cross-sectional design. Participants/settingData on 7151 adults (aged 18+ years), with family income of < 200% of the Federal Poverty line, from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, were analyzed. Main outcome measuresLevel of family food security, based on responses to a set of 10 questions measuring family’s food security during the past 30 days. Statistical analyses performedMultinomial logistic regression models were estimated to obtain relative risk ratios of marginal and low/very low food security, relative to the base outcome of high food security, for long COVID status. Multivariable models were estimated separately for the full sample and for subgroups of food assistance participants and nonparticipants. A seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) specification was estimated to assess whether the estimates were different across the participant and nonparticipant subgroups. ResultsCompared with individuals who never had COVID-19, the adjusted relative risks of experiencing marginal and low/very low food security were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.00–2.02) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.08–1.91) times higher, respectively, for individuals who had long COVID. Although the adjusted risks were not observed to be statistically significant in the participant subgroup, among nonparticipants, adjusted relative risk ratios were 2.34 (95% CI, 1.43–3.82) and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.02–2.39), respectively. SUR results showed that relationships between long COVID and food insecurity were only different for marginal and not low/very low levels of food security between food assistance participant and nonparticipant groups. ConclusionsStudy findings highlight a significantly higher risk of marginal and low/very low- food security among low-income adults who had long COVID, especially those who were nonparticipants in public food assistance programs. Further research is warranted to explore the causal pathways of this relationship for informing policies to mitigate the burden of long COVID.

Nutritional status, food security and other correlates among adult tuberculosis patients in a block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal.

Tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition are epidemiologically interrelated two major public health problems in India. Food security also influences nutritional status. This aspect needs evaluation in diverse geographical areas. This study aimed to assess the level of food security, nutritional status and correlates among adult TB patients in a block of Murshidabad, West Bengal. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Nabagram block of Murshidabad district during April-July 2023. All adult (≥18 years) patients registered under the Tuberculosis Unit of the block during a reference period of 6 months (October 2022-March 2023) were considered study subjects. Eighty such eligible participants recruited randomly were interviewed with a pre-designed schedule for socio-demographic and programmatic characteristics. Household food security was measured using a validated U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and nutritional status was determined based on body mass index. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for analysis. Among 80 TB patients, 51% were underweight and 20% were severely underweight. The majority (90%) of them had high or marginal food security, and 10% had low or very low food security. On multivariable logistic regression, Hindu religion (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 6.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12-29.39), presence of any chronic morbidity (AOR: 11.61, 95%CI: 2.71-49.78) and receipt of dietary counselling by a health worker (AOR: 7.25, 95%CI: 1.22-43.13) appeared as predictors of underweight. Underweight among TB patients is quite prevalent in the area, and few programmatic interventions are influencing factors. This underscores the importance of nutritional counselling services and the universal provision of Poshan benefits.

The Impact of Food Insecurity on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food security status and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a single-center cross-sectional cohort study of postpartum women in Indianapolis, IN. A validated 10 question Household Food Security Survey module was used to assess food security for patients who spoke English, Spanish, or Haitian-Creole. Correlating with the USDA definitions of food security, total scores were “high,” “marginal,” “low,” and “very low.” Scores were analyzed as inadequate (marginal, low, or very low) vs. adequate (high) food security. If a score fell within any category but “adequate” food security, patients were provided with information on community resources. Prenatal and postpartum data were abstracted via chart review, collecting: standard demographics, language, parity, diagnosis of diabetes, diagnosis of hypertensive disorder(s), pre-pregnancy weight, weight at time of delivery, BMI at time of delivery, gestational age at delivery, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score, and delivery mode. Neonatal variables included: weight and sex. The primary outcome was occurrence of gestational diabetes (GDM). These outcomes were compared between patients who had adequate vs. inadequate food security. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between food insecurity and each of the dichotomous outcomes. Linear regression was used to model the relationship between sex-specific birthweight z-scores and food insecurity. All adjusted models included language and maternal age. The Indiana University institutional review board approved the study (IRB# 14116). Results: Two hundred six surveys were completed from June 2022 through December 2022. Ninety-three participants (45.4%, 95% CI 38.4-52.4%) were categorized as inadequate food security. The incidences of marginal, low, and very low food security were similar with 31, 30, and 28 participants, respectively. Race/ethnicity and language were different between adequate and inadequate groups (p=0.006 and &lt;0.001 respectively). The incidence of GDM was 7.9% and was not different for those with inadequate food security (OR 0.96 95% CI 0.33-2.68). Food insecurity was protective against delivery via C-section (aOR 0.50 95% CI 0.25-0.98). Food insecurity increases odds of EPDS &gt; 9 (aOR 4.32 95% CI 1.41-16.2). Conclusions: Inadequate food security status is highly prevalent in our patient population and was associated with racial/ethnic minority status and non-English speaking populations. Inadequate food security was found to be associated with a decreased odds of cesarean delivery and higher odds of postpartum depression.

Assessing the efficacy of novel systemic insecticides on rice stem borers and their impact on beneficial insect fauna survival

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop worldwide, but its production is threatened by pests like rice stem borers. Effective pest management strategies are crucial for ensuring high yields and food security. In this study, the effectiveness of various insecticides was evaluated against rice stem borers while considering their impact on the survival of beneficial insect fauna. Five treatments were tested: chlorantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam, fipronil, flubendiamide, and a control group. The efficacy of each treatment was assessed by measuring pre- and post-treatment infestation levels of deadhearts and whiteheads, along with the survival percentage of beneficial insect fauna after one week. Chlorantraniliprole exhibited the highest effectiveness, with post-treatment percent infestation of deadhearts reduced to 2.10% after 72 hours and 1.24% after one week, and an effectiveness rate of 82.53% after 72 hours and 91.17% after one week. Chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam showed similar efficacy, with post-treatment percent infestation of deadhearts at 1.00% after 72 hours and 0.67% after one week, and an effectiveness rate of 91.71% after 72 hours and 95.18% after one week. Fipronil and flubendiamide also demonstrated significant effectiveness, albeit slightly lower than chlorantraniliprole-based treatments. The control group exhibited high post-treatment infestation levels and no effectiveness against deadhearts or whiteheads. However, the survival percentage of beneficial insect fauna was remarkably high in the control group. These findings highlight the potential of chlorantraniliprole and its combination with thiamethoxam as effective pest management options for rice cultivation, while emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches to minimize environmental impact. Further research is warranted to validate these results under diverse field conditions and optimize insecticide application protocols for sustainable rice production.

Lightweight pH-responsive chitosan hydrogel iron fertilizer: Efficient performance, controlled-release, and tomato application

Ensuring efficient iron absorption by crops is crucial in terms of high crop yields and food security. Bio-based materials effectively transport nutrients with minimal environmental impacts. Here, highly efficient lightweight iron fertilizers, CSG@Fe was prepared using chitosan hydrogels (CSG) as the adsorption carrier. Iron release from the various CSG@Fe preparations was slow under neutral conditions but rapid under acidic conditions. The effects of various cross-linking agents were investigated; 1.0 wt% genipin chitosan hydrogels iron fertilizer (GE-CSG@Fe) evidenced an excellent iron adsorption rate and a higher iron loading (326.15 mg/g) than the other two iron fertilizers. Iron release from CSG@Fe materials followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Notably, wheat seed germination and tomato pot experiments revealed that GE-CSG@Fe significantly enhanced germination and growth. GE-CSG@Fe appropriately reduced the soil pH, protected ferrous ions from soil oxidation and rapid fixation, activated the soil microenvironment, and improved nutrient absorption by the roots of crops growing. This work provides a simple and effective strategy for overcoming constraints in the development and application of iron fertilizers and provides insights into the development of green and efficient iron fertilizers with intelligent response properties.

Association of food insecurity with reduced cancer screening rates.

1592 Background: Social determinants of health, including access to adequate food and nutrition, influence many aspects of health, including cancer screening. This study explored the associations between food insecurity and cancer screening. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the National Health Interview Series from 2018-2022 to capture contemporary screening events. Based on scaled questionnaires, food security was stratified into either food secure or insecure, and then subgrouped into high, marginal, or low security. Associations were made with rates of undergoing at least one screening test. Relationships between variables were evaluated using Chi-Square and Cochran-Armitage trend tests. Logistic regression models were applied to find factors associated with cancer screening. Results: Patients included in analyses included: 51,957 for colon, 40,103 for breast, 45,983 for cervical, and 25,781 for prostate cancer screening. Between 2018-2022, those with food insecurity had significantly lower rates of cancer screening than those with food security across all four cancer screens, including colon (68.1% vs. 76.1%, p &lt; 0.0001), cervical (83.3% vs. 87.5%, p &lt; 0.0001), breast (73.3% vs. 79.5%, p &lt; 0.0001) and prostate (41.3% vs. 54.0%, p &lt; 0.0001) (Table). This was similar when comparing low, marginal, and high food security, respectively, for colon (68.1% vs. 68.2% vs. 76.1%, p &lt; 0.0001), cervical (82.8% vs. 84.1% vs. 87.5%; p &lt; 0.0001), breast (72.7% vs. 74.1% vs. 79.5%, p &lt; 0.0001), and PSA screening (40.7% vs. 42.2% vs. 54.0%; p &lt; 0.0001). Other variables were also analyzed, including insurance type, age, race, BMI, and health status. Those with public health insurance had lower screening rates for cervical cancer compared to those with private insurance (p &lt; 0.0001). Individuals with food insecurity reported worse health than those who were food secure (p &lt; 0.0001). Lower food security disproportionately affected Black patients (p &lt; 0.001), and was associated with younger age (p &lt; 0.0001) and higher rates of obesity (p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusions: Individuals with self-reported food insecurity were found to have lower cancer screening rates than those who were food secure. Further analyses revealed associations between low food security status and obesity, public health insurance, younger age, and Black race. These data suggest that addressing food insecurity should be a priority, as these populations appear most vulnerable to lacking appropriate cancer screening. [Table: see text]

Nutrition knowledge, body image and food security risk amongst development rugby league players.

This study aimed to describe the nutrition knowledge, food security risk and eating disorder risk of development male rugby league players. Sixty athletes from one Australian professional rugby league club volunteered. A cross sectional online survey questionnaire consisted of three sections (Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-3), Nutrition Knowledge and Food Security). All athletes completed the online survey without assistance using a personal electronic device. The mean total knowledge score was 65.7±13.1%. There was a positive relationship between age and knowledge score, P=0.050, r2=0.06. The majority of players had breakfast everyday (N.=45, 73.8%), took pack lunches (N.=33, 55.0%), and had homemade evening meals (N.=55, 91.7%). The majority of players ate more than 1 hour before training (N.=45, 75%) and all players (n=60, 100%) ate within half an hour of training finishing. The majority of participants agreed that nutrition could influence physical and cognitive aspects of nutrition however, skill-based activities were perceived by fewer participants to be influenced by nutrition. The majority (N.=38, 63.3%) had high food security, six (10.0%) had marginal food security, whereas 10 (16.7%) and six (10.0%) had low and very low security respectively. These results show a concerning levels of eating disorder risk, food insecurity and poor nutrition knowledge amongst male development rugby league players. However, it does show that they believe nutrition can impact their health and performance, and they do mostly appear to adhere to the nutrition principals for optimising health and performance.

The Association Between Food Security and Mammography Screening: Cross-Sectional Survey Results From the National Health Interview Survey

ObjectiveThere are limited data about food insecurity within the cancer screening setting. To inform the potential need for food insecurity interventions, our study evaluated the association between food security and mammographic screening among eligible participants. MethodsFemale respondents aged 40 to 74 years in the 2019 National Health Interview Survey without history of breast cancer were included. Food insecurity was assessed using the Six-Item Food Security Scale developed by the National Center for Health Statistics. The proportion of patients who reported mammographic screening within the last year was estimated, stratified by food security. Multiple variable logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between food security and mammography screening, adjusted for potential confounders. All analyses were performed accounting for complex survey design features. ResultsIn all, 8,956 weighted survey respondents met inclusion criteria; 90.1% were classified as having high or marginal food security, of whom 56.6% reported screening; 6.1% were classified with low food security, of whom 42.1% reported screening; and 3.8% were classified with very low food security, of whom 43.1% reported screening. In our unadjusted analyses, participants with low food security (P < .001) and very low food security (P < .001) were less likely to report screening within the last year. In our adjusted analyses, participants with food insecurity (P = .009) were less likely to report screening. DiscussionIn a nationally representative cross-sectional survey, participants with food insecurity were less likely to report mammography screening. Radiology practices should consider screening patients for food insecurity and social determinants of health. Evidence-based food insecurity interventions may increase adherence to mammography screening.

Association between food insecurity and edentulism for older adults: A pilot study.

This pilot study examined the association between food insecurity and edentulism among older adults in Washington State. This study focused on adults aged 50 years and older, who were recruited through seven community-based organizations in Washington State. The exposure variable was food security level (high, marginal, and low/very low food security) assessed using the 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Survey. The outcome was edentulism, defined as having zero natural teeth. Confounder-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using binary logistic regression models (α = 0.05). Of the 216 participants, 28.7% (n = 62) had low/very low food security and 7.9% (n = 17) had zero teeth. Older adults with low or very low food security had greater odds of being edentulous compared to those with marginal or high food security, although the difference was not statistically significant (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 0.46, 4.20; p = 0.56). Future research should explore food insecurity-focused interventions aimed at preventing edentulism in older adults in a broader effort to address oral health inequities.

Food security status and cardiometabolic health by sex/gender and race/ethnicity among adults in the United States

BackgroundMinoritized racial/ethnic groups and women in the United States (US) are disproportionately burdened by food insecurity, which likely contributes to disparities in cardiovascular health (CVH). Disparities are projected to widen due to the worsening climate crisis that is straining the agricultural system including food supplies. Nonetheless, studies have not investigated the relationship between food security status and ‘ideal’ CVH in a large, nationally-representative and racially/ethnically diverse US sample.Methods and resultsWe investigated household food security status in relation to ‘ideal’ CVH among US adults (N = 157,001) using 2014–2018/2020 National Health Interview Survey data. Food security status was defined as very low, low, marginal, or high. A summed score of 4 health behaviors and 3 clinical factors totaling 7 different measures was dichotomized (yes/no) to assess modified ‘ideal’ CVH (mICVH). Using Poisson regression with robust variance, we estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs of mICVH by household food security status. We stratified models by sex/gender and race/ethnicity. Very low food security prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic (NH)-Black (8.0%) compared to Hispanic/Latinx (5.1%), NH-White (3.1%) and NH-Asian (1.7%) adults. The association between very low versus high food security and mICVH was stronger among women (PR = 0.23 [95% CI: 0.17–0.31]) than men (PR = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.35–0.66]). Compared to NH-White adults with high food security, racially/ethnically minoritized groups with very low to high food security were generally less likely (range: [PRvery low = 0.25[95% CI: 0.14–0.44] – [PRhigh = 0.88 [95% CI: 0.79–0.97]) to meet mICVH criteria.ConclusionsFood insecurity was associated with lower mICVH prevalence and racially/ethnically minoritized groups were disproportionately burdened.

Food Insecurity Is Associated with Diet Quality in Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Household food insecurity (HFI) and poorer prenatal diet quality are both associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, research assessing the relationship between HFI and diet quality in pregnancy is limited. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to examine the relationship between HFI and diet quality among 1540 pregnant women in Australia. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations between HFI severity (marginal, low, and very low food security compared to high food security) and diet quality and variety, adjusting for age, education, equivalised household income, and relationship status. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between HFI and the odds of meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations, adjusting for education. Marginal, low, and very low food security were associated with poorer prenatal diet quality (adj β = -1.9, -3.6, and -5.3, respectively; p < 0.05), and very low food security was associated with a lower dietary variety (adj β = -0.5, p < 0.001). An association was also observed between HFI and lower odds of meeting fruit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49-0.76, p < 0.001) and vegetable (AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19-0.84, p = 0.016) recommendations. Future research should seek to understand what policy and service system changes are required to reduce diet-related disparities in pregnancy.

Improving Maternal Health and Birth Outcomes Through FreshRx: A Food-Is-Medicine Intervention.

Food insecurity has far-reaching consequences for health and well-being, especially during pregnancy and postpartum periods. This study examines a food-is-medicine approach that aimed to reduce food insecurity, maternal stress, depression, anxiety, preterm labor, and low birthweight. Pre-post interventional study of FreshRx: Nourishing Healthy Starts, a pregnancy focused food-is-medicine program led by a local hunger relief organization and obstetrics department. St. Louis, Missouri, a Midwestern U.S. city with higher-than-average infant mortality, low birthweight, and preterm birth rates. Participants (N = 125) recruited from a local obstetrics clinic had pregnancies earlier than 24weeks gestation; spoke English; and were enrolled in Medicaid. At baseline, 67.0% reported very low food security and none reported high food security, while 34.7% indicated depressive symptoms. FreshRx included weekly deliveries of fresh food meal kits, nutrition counseling and education, care coordination, and supportive services. 18-Question U.S. Household Food Security Survey, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, birthweight, gestational age. Single arm pre-post analysis. Average gestational age of 38.2weeks (n = 84) and birthweight of 6.7 pounds (n = 81) were higher than rates for the general population in the area. For study participants who completed a sixty-day post-partum assessment, 13% (n = 45) indicated maternal depression (P < .01). Food-is-medicine interventions may be an efficient, effective, and equitable tool for improving birth and maternal health outcomes.

Sociodemographic Factors and Policy Implications for Improved Food Security

Ensuring food security is a pressing challenge facing East Kalimantan, and practical solutions are necessary. With the impending relocation of Indonesia's capital to this region, it's crucial to evaluate the area's food security in light of projected population growth and economic shifts. Prior to the new capital city project, it's essential to understand East Kalimantan's socio-economic factors to develop policies that strengthen food security for the future. This research uses logistic regression to analyze data from the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) module of the 2021 National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas-BPS). The results show that 14.75% of households experience food insecurity, while 85.25% maintain food security. Factors such as education, family size, land ownership, marital status, employment, residence, and retirement security influence food security status significantly. However, age, gender, and home ownership have little impact. Notably, agricultural workers are more likely to experience food insecurity, while education and land ownership correlate with higher food security. Additionally, larger families are more vulnerable to food insecurity.

Associations Between Food Insecurity and Diet Quality Among Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Trainees in the Health Sciences at a Private University in Boston: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundFood insecurity is a pivotal determinant of health outcomes. Little evidence exists on the association between food insecurity and health behaviors and outcomes, including diet quality, among graduate students or postdoctoral trainees. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the association between food insecurity and diet quality among graduate students and postdoctoral trainees at 3 health-focused graduate schools (public health, medical, and dental medicine) within Harvard University. MethodsBetween April and June 2023, 1287 graduate students and 458 postdoctoral trainees at the health-focused schools within Harvard University completed a web-based survey. The primary exposure was food security status, assessed using the United States Household Food Security Survey Module. The primary outcome was diet quality, measured using the 30-day Prime Diet Quality Score screener (ranges from 0 to 126, with higher scores indicating healthier diets). The associations between food insecurity and diet quality were examined using multivariable regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. ResultsAmong graduate students, compared with those with high food security, diet quality was significantly lower among those experiencing marginal food security [β: −4.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): −6.5, −2.9], low food security (β: −5.4; 95% CI: −7.6, −3.3), and very low food security (β: −4.4; 95% CI: −7.4, −1.4). Poor diet quality included lower intake frequencies of vegetables, fruits, beans/peas/soy products, nuts/seeds, poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, and liquid oils, and higher intake frequencies of refined grains/baked products, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fried foods. Among postdoctoral trainees, compared with those with high food security, diet quality was significantly lower among those experiencing low food security (β: −5.1; 95% CI: −8.8, −1.4), and very low food security (β: −5.2; 95% CI: −10.2, −0.2). Poor diet quality included lower intake frequencies of dark green leafy vegetables, other fruits, and whole grains. ConclusionsGraduate students and postdoctoral trainees who experienced degrees of food insecurity reported lower diet quality. These observations underscore the need for policies and interventions to simultaneously reduce food insecurity and improve diet quality.

Investigating level of food security among patients with hypertension and diabetes at a student-run free clinic

Background Nutritional recommendations for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension assume high food security. However, food insecurity is estimated to affect 10% of the US population and more so patients at our student-run free clinic (SRFC). The aims of the study were to (1) assess food security in patients with a diagnosis of T2DM, hypertension, or both and (2) examine the relationship between food security and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) or blood pressure at an SRFC. Methods Eligible participants completed a 10-item food security questionnaire and an item addressing perceived barriers. Most recent HbA1C and blood pressure measurements were gathered. Comparisons were made using univariate or multivariate linear regression analysis. Results Results from 79 participants showed that 25.3% experienced high food security, 29.1% had marginal food security, 13.9% had low food security, and 30.4% had very low food security. No statistically significant association was found between food security category and HbA1C or blood pressure. However, we did find that approximately 73% of patients experienced some degree of food insecurity. Conclusions Patients at our SRFC are ethnically and racially diverse, most have a high school education or less, and most have food insecurity. No association between food security category and HbA1C or blood pressure control was found. Providers should consider the degree of food insecurity and incorporate a culturally sensitive approach when making nutritional recommendations.

Examining measurement invariance of appetitive trait and ARFID symptom measures by food security status

ObjectiveMeasures assessing appetitive traits (i.e., individual differences in the desire to consume food) and disordered eating have generally been developed in predominantly food-secure populations. The current study aims to test measurement invariance (MI) for a measure of appetitive traits and a measure of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) symptomology across food security status. MethodData from a sample of mothers (n = 634) and two undergraduate samples (n = 945 and n = 442) were used to assess MI for the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ), which measures appetitive traits, and the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS), which measures ARFID symptomology. Current food security was assessed using the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, which was dichotomized into two groups: 1) the ‘food insecure’ group included marginal, low, and very low food security and 2) the ‘food secure’ group included high food security. Overall and multi-group confirmatory factor analyses were conducted separately for each measure in each sample. ResultsResults demonstrated scalar (i.e., strong) MI for both measures across samples, indicating that these measures performed equivalently across food-secure and food-insecure individuals. ConclusionFindings suggest that differences in appetitive traits by food security status observed in prior research are not artifacts of measurement differences, but instead reflect true differences. Additionally, past mixed results regarding the relationship between food insecurity (FI) and ARFID symptomology are not likely driven by measurement error when using the NIAS.

“If the college adjusted the prices…”: comparing food secure and insecure college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: We examined how students’ food insecurity related to their demographic information, academic experiences, use of food programs, and reflections on food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: 246 NYC undergraduates during the first 9 months of the pandemic. Methods: Students reported on food insecurity (eg, USDA’s 10-item AFSSM), household income, impact of food insecurity on academics, GPA, and use of food programs. They wrote two food narratives. Results: 135 (54.88%) participants reported high food security; 51 (20.73%) reported low or very low food security. Compared to high food security students, low and very low-security students were more likely to identify as Black and first-generation immigrants, reported lower household income, more frequently used food programs, had a lower GPA, reported more academic difficulties, and wrote more often about financial and programmatic difficulties related to food. Conclusions: Food-insecure students need greater financial, academic, and programmatic support during public health crises.

Meanings and implications of love: review of the scholarship of love with a sub-Saharan focus

Love, as an emotion, binds people together in social practices that are contingent on culture, historical processes, and social trends. As such, love is a perfect site to study how people interact and to understand how power, equality, and sustainability play out in human relations. Despite its importance and much attention, love as a concept and form of interaction is not fully understood, especially not across cultures. In our research, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, we show that alongside other emotions, love matters not only for passion in life or for wellbeing but also for improved resource use, increased gender equality, and, subsequently, higher food security and sovereignty – all signs of sustainability. While love is understood as a universal human phenomenon, definitions and expressions of love vary across time and cultures. Since love drives human interaction in many intertwined ways there is no single best way to define it. Yet, scholars have advanced the theory of love by identifying at least 40 major distinct but interdependent ‘love constructs’ fitting into the four main dimensions of affection, closeness, compassion, and commitment (Karandashev et al. 2022). In parallel to this and based on our review of the scholarship of love in a subset of 45 relevant academic articles from an 80-article systematic literature search of ‘love’ we find four core (and partly overlapping) types of how to speak about love as an expression and experience. These include: 1/ contextual love influenced by culture, space, and time; 2/ romantic and compassionate love; 3/ transactional love; 4/ post-humanist perspectives and ‘harmony love’. Finally, we examine love in relation to power; love-related emotions; and how understandings of love and culture impact gender relations.