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Title: CHILDREN IN FOOD-INSUFFICIENT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES:PREVALENCE, HEALTH AND NUTRITION STATUS

Author
item CASEY, PATRICK - DELTA NIRI
item SZETO, KITTY - DELTA NIRI
item LENSING, SHELLY - DELTA NIRI
item Bogle, Margaret
item WEBER, JUDITH - DELTA NIRI

Submitted to: Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2000
Publication Date: 4/1/2001
Citation: Casey, P.H., Szeto, K., Lensing, S., Bogle, M.L., Weber, J. 2001. Children in food-insufficient low-income families: Prevalence, health and nutrition status. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 155:508-514.

Interpretive Summary: This study was designed to look at differences, if any, in nutritional stat and physical activity of children in low-income families living in food insufficient households compared to children in higher income, food sufficient households. Food insufficiency was defined as "often don't have enough to eat" or "sometimes don't have enough to eat". The 1994-96 USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals(CSFII) w used as the source of data. Children (N=5669) from 3790 households were selected. The differences found were:consumption of fewer calories, greater numbers o overweight children, consumption of less fruit and increased TV watching. All low-income children were similar regardless of whether they were in foo sufficient or food insufficient households. This suggests that poverty is major contributor to food insufficiency and subsequent differences in nutritional status and physical activity in children. Further research is needed to determine appropriate interventions to prevent food insufficiency and subsequent health outcomes.

Technical Abstract: Objective: To examine characteristics of US children living in food-insufficient households and to compare food and nutrient intakes, physical inactivity, and over-weight and underweight status of children in food-insufficient households with those in food-sufficient households. Design: Cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of children and households from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, from 1994 to 1996. Participants: A group of 3790 households, including 5669 children (age 0-17 years). Main Outcome Measure(s): Estimates of food insufficiency for children were based on the reported adequacy of their households, described as 'often don't have enough to eat' or 'sometimes don't have enough to eat.' Nutrient consumption was based on two 24-hour dietary recalls from in-person interviews. Results: Three percent of all households with children, and 7.5% of low-income families with children experienced food insufficiency. Several demographic and characteristic differences were observed between the food-sufficient and food-insufficient low-income groups. Children of low-income families, either food-sufficient or food-insufficient, had similar macronutrient and micronutrient intake, reported exercise, television watching, and percentage of overweight and underweight. When compared with the higher-income food-sufficient households, children in the low-income food insufficient households consumed fewer calories (p=.05) and total carbohydrates (p=.004), but had a higher cholesterol intake (p=.02). The low-income food-insufficient group included more overweight children (p=.04), consumed less fruits (p=.04), and spent more time watching television (p=.02). Conclusions: While not different from low-income families who do not report food insufficiency, low-income families with food insufficiency had children who differed from high-income families in several nutrition and anthropometric measures. Clinicians should be aware of the possible effects of poverty and lack of access to food on child health and nutrition status. The long-term effects of these are not yet known.