Author
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CASEY, PATRICK - DELTA NIRI |
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Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2004 Publication Date: 6/11/2004 Citation: Casey, H. 2004. Obesity and food insecurity in children [abstract]. Third Annual Conference of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. p. 17. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: As measured by the US Household Food Security Scale, food security is considered a marker of the adequacy and stability of a household's food supply over the preceding months for active, healthy living for all household members. The most recent national data in 2002 indicate that 11.1% of all households were food insecure; 16% of households with children were food insecure at some time during the preceding year. Prevalence has trended upward from 1999 to 2002, resulting in more than 1.5 million additional food insecure households. Food insecurity status thus may have a significant negative impact on the nutrition and health status of individuals within the household. Understanding the independent affect of food insecurity (or insufficiency) on nutrient intake and health status is rapidly advancing. Food insecurity (or insufficiency) has been found to be independently associated with poor adult general physical health, mental health, and chronic conditions, including obesity in adult women but not in men. A significant gap in understanding of the association between food insecurity and child health remains. Although much discussed and of theoretic concern, an association between food insecurity and childhood obesity has not been confirmed. During this presentation, we will examine the association of household food insecurity status and child health, with specific reference to childhood obesity, in both the published and non-published research literature. New data from two multi-site studies, the Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative and the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program, will be presented. |
