Relationship between food insecurity and ultra-processed food consumption in adults with overweight and obesity
Sedat Arslan1, Nursel Dal2, Ramazan Mert Atan2
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Türkiye.
Aim:
This study examined the relationship between food insecurity and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in adults with overweight and obesity.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among outpatients seeking dietary counseling. Normality was assessed via skewness-kurtosis (-2 to +2). Daily UPF intake (g/day) was compared by sex using Student's t-test. Associations between food insecurity (food secure vs. mild/moderate/severe) and daily UPF intake were modeled using simple and multivariable linear regressions with progressive adjustment for sociodemographic and behavioral covariates.
Results:
Among 323 participants (mean age 46.9 ± 13.1 years; 64.4 % women; mean BMI 33.8 ± 11.0 kg/m2), 14.9 % reported any food insecurity (9.6 % mild, 3.7 % moderate, 1.5 % severe). Total daily UPF intake was higher in individuals with any food insecurity than in food-secure individuals (286.3 ± 370.6 vs. 143.8 ± 205.0 g). Across fully adjusted models, food insecurity was associated with 124-143 g/day higher UPF consumption.
Conclusion:
Food insecurity is associated with higher daily UPF intake among adults with overweight or obesity. Policies should prioritize affordable, healthy substitutes and economic supports rather than assuming simple removal of UPFs.
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