Food Insecurity and Weight Faltering: US Multisite Analysis of Young Children's Weight Trajectory.
Ana Poblacion1, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba2, Maureen M Black3
1Children's HealthWatch, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
|December 7, 2024
Summary
Child food insecurity, not household insecurity, is linked to slow weight gain in young children. Monitoring child food insecurity is crucial for preventing growth faltering and supporting healthy development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Child Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Food insecurity negatively impacts child health and development.
- Existing research shows inconsistent associations between food insecurity and longitudinal growth in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between household and child food insecurity and weight trajectory in children aged 0 to 2 years.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of longitudinal survey data from 814 racially diverse mother-child pairs in 4 US cities (2009-2018).
- Children were assessed for weight-for-age z score differences between two interviews (mean 11 months apart).
- Weight gain categories: expected, slow (< -1.34 SD), or rapid (> +1.34 SD).
Main Results:
- Child food insecurity was significantly associated with slow weight gain (adjusted RR 2.44; 95% CI 1.16 to 5.13).
- Household food insecurity showed no significant association with slow weight gain (adjusted RR 1.30; 95% CI 0.69 to 2.51).
- Neither household nor child food insecurity was associated with rapid weight gain.
Conclusions:
- Child food insecurity is a clinical concern due to its association with slow weight gain in early childhood.
- Monitoring child food insecurity alongside household food insecurity is recommended for early intervention and prevention of growth faltering.
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