Nutrition insecurity, chronic disease, and dietary habits explain low perceptions of self-rated health

Authors: Thomson, Jessica; LANDRY, ALLICIA - University Of Central Arkansas; Walls, Tameka

Submitted to: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Self-rated health, often measured with a single question, is consistently associated with risks of disease and death. Yet surprisingly few studies have looked for links among self-rated health, nutrition security, dietary habits, and food environments. Thus, to address gaps in knowledge, the objective of this work was to explore and identify sociodemographic/socioeconomic (including food and nutrition security), chronic disease, dietary habits, and food environment variables associated with self-rated health in households at risk of or experiencing food insecurity. Of the 54% of individuals with low self-rated health, 43% had nutrition insecurity and 66% had at least one chronic disease. For individuals with high self-rated health, 25% had nutrition insecurity and 32% had at least one chronic disease. The likelihood of having low self-rated health was higher for individuals with lower income and those who ate less fruits, vegetables, and scratch-cooked meals. Additionally, participants with low self-rated health were twice as likely to have nutrition insecurity and four times as likely to have at least one chronic disease than participants with high self-rated health. High self-rated health is more common among individuals with good dietary habits while low self-rated health is more common among individuals with nutrition insecurity and chronic disease. Supporting better dietary habits for individuals at risk of or experiencing food insecurity may positively affect their intake of healthy food and how they rate their health.

Technical Abstract: The study objective was to identify significant sociodemographic/socioeconomic, chronic disease presence, dietary habits, and food environment explanatory variables for perceptions of self-rated health (SRH). Data were collected in 2021 and consisted of households at risk of or experiencing food insecurity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant explanatory variables for SRH. Of the 54% of participants with low SRH, 43% had nutrition insecurity and 66% had =1 chronic disease. For participants with high SRH, 25% had nutrition insecurity and 32% had =1 chronic disease. Household income, fruit and vegetable intake, and scratch-cooked meals were protective against low SRH (5%-16% decrease in odds). Participants with low SRH were 1.8 and 4.3 times as likely to have nutrition insecurity and =1 chronic disease, respectively than participants with high SRH. Perceptions of one’s health are positively associated with healthful dietary habits and negatively associated with nutrition insecurity and presence of chronic disease.