Anthropometric characteristics of children living in food-insecure households in the USA. Issue 15 (28th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tayie, Francis A; Lambert, Lea Anne; Aryeetey, Richmond; Xu, Beibei; Brewer, Gabrielle
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 24:Issue 15(2021)
• Page Start: 4803
• Page End: 4811
• Publication Date: 2021-10-28
• Subjects: Food insecurity -- Child undernutrition -- Child growth -- Wasting -- Childhood obesity; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021002378
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: This study provides information on food insecurity and child malnutrition in a technologically advanced nation. Design: Population-based study using multistage probability cluster sampling design to collect survey data. Multivariable regression models were used to determine associations between food security status and various malnutrition indices. Setting: We used a national sample from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014. Participants: The anthropometric and demographic data sets of 4121 children <7 years old were analysed for this study. Results: Food-insecure infants younger than 6 months had shorter upper arm length (–0·4 cm, P = 0·012) and smaller mid-upper arm circumference (–0·5 cm, P = 0·004); likewise those aged 6 months–1 year had shorter upper arm length (–0·4 cm, P = 0·008), body length (–1·7 cm, P = 0·007) and lower body weight (–0·5 kg, P = 0·008). Food-insecure children younger than 2 years were more likely to be underweight (OR: 4·34; 95 % CI 1·99, 9·46) compared with their food-secure counterparts. Contrariwise, food-insecure children older than 5 years were more likely to be obese (OR: 3·12; 95 % CI 1·23, 7·96). Conclusions: Food insecurity associates with child growth deficits in the USA. Food-insecure infants and young children are generally smaller and shorter, whereas older children are heavier than their food-secure counterparts, implying a double burden of undernutrition–overnutrition associated with child food insecurity. Child food and nutrition programmes to improve food insecurity should focus on infants and children in the transition ages.