Association between food insecurity and healthy ageing: two population-based studies

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food, is linked to adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, and cognitive decline.
• The relationship between food security and healthy ageing, a multidimensional concept encompassing physical, mental, and cognitive well-being in later life, remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between food security and healthy ageing.
• Utilize data from two large, population-based US surveys: the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 42,147 (NHIS, 2011-2018) and 3,020 (NHANES, 2011-2014) participants aged 60 years and older.
• Food security assessed using the USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module.
• Healthy ageing operationalized by chronic disease status, cognitive function, physical limitations, mental health, and self-perceived health.

Main Results:

• Food security demonstrated a significant positive association with all components of healthy ageing in both cohorts, independent of demographic factors, lifestyle choices, and metabolic comorbidities.
• Participants with food security exhibited substantially increased odds of healthy ageing (NHIS: OR=2.24; NHANES: OR=3.32).
• This association remained consistent across various demographic and lifestyle subgroups, including gender, race, lifestyle factors, and obesity status.

Conclusions:

• Food security is positively associated with higher odds of achieving multidimensional healthy ageing.
• These findings underscore the critical public health importance of addressing food security to promote healthy ageing, particularly in underserved populations and resource-limited settings.