Food insecurity: Its prevalence and relationship to fruit and vegetable consumption
O Turnbull1, M Homer2,3, H Ensaff1
1Nutritional Sciences and Epidemiology, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Summary
Food insecurity in the UK affects over a fifth of households, significantly reducing fruit and vegetable consumption. Addressing food insecurity is crucial for improving dietary habits and public health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Nutrition
- Dietary Assessment
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Food insecurity is a significant and increasing issue in UK households.
- Understanding the prevalence and impact of food insecurity is vital for public health.
- Previous research has not fully explored the link between food security status and fruit and vegetable intake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify UK households at risk of food insecurity.
- To investigate the relationship between food security and fruit and vegetable consumption.
- To determine the impact of financially driven changes in food habits on dietary intake.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2016 Food and You survey, a large representative sample from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (n=3118).
- Developed a 'Food Security Score' and a 'Food Changes Score' to quantify food insecurity and related dietary adjustments.
- Analyzed the correlation between these scores and fruit and vegetable consumption patterns.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of marginal, low, and very low food security was 12.6%, 5.4%, and 2.8%, respectively, affecting over one-fifth of the sample.
- Significant negative correlations were found between higher food insecurity (increased Food Security Score) and fruit and vegetable consumption.
- Each unit increase in the Food Security Score was associated with an 11% decrease in the odds of being a high fruit and vegetable consumer.
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of UK households experience food insecurity, impacting dietary quality.
- Financially driven changes in food habits exacerbate the decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption.
- Findings highlight the need for interventions to mitigate food insecurity and its adverse dietary consequences.
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