Association between food insecurity and food intake

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Food insecurity is a growing public health concern with potential impacts on dietary patterns.
• Understanding the relationship between food insecurity and food intake is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of food insecurity in a primary healthcare setting in Brazil.
• To investigate the association between food insecurity and the consumption of various food groups, including fruits, vegetables, beans, and tubers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2817 adult primary healthcare users in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2013-2014).
• Data on socioeconomic status, health, and food intake were collected using questionnaires and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale.

Main Results:

• Food insecurity prevalence was 41.0% in households with members under 18 and 26.4% in other households.
• Food insecurity was associated with lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, and higher consumption of beans in households with children.
• In households without children, food insecurity was linked to lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher tuber consumption.

Conclusions:

• Food insecurity negatively affects fruit and vegetable consumption across different household types.
• Dietary patterns shift with food insecurity, showing increased bean intake in families with children and tuber intake in those without.
• Ultra-processed food consumption remains unaffected by food insecurity, irrespective of household composition or demographic factors.