Food Insecurity, Diet and Health Outcomes in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Nutritional Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Food insecurity (FI) is linked to poor diet quality, a factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prevalence.
• The impact of FI on pediatric IBD remains understudied.
• This pilot study investigates FI's role in newly diagnosed pediatric IBD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of screening for FI in pediatric IBD.
• To explore the association between FI, dietary intake, and clinical outcomes in pediatric IBD.
• To understand the prevalence and impact of FI in this population.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study of newly diagnosed IBD patients (ages 5-18).
• FI screening using USDA and AAP tools at diagnosis and 6 months.
• Dietary intake analysis (NOVA classification), clinical data, anthropometrics, and healthcare utilization collected over 6 months.

Main Results:

• FI identified in 40% of families.
• Food-insecure patients showed significantly lower weight and BMI z-scores at diagnosis (p<0.01).
• Higher hospitalization rates were observed in food-insecure patients; diets were high in ultra-processed foods for most.

Conclusions:

• FI is prevalent in pediatric IBD, correlating with poorer nutritional status.
• FI is associated with increased ultra-processed food consumption, though overall diet quality is a concern.
• Further research in larger cohorts and intervention studies are warranted.