Research

Energy balance

In the US, higher food insecurity is inversely associated with BMI.

If you are experiencing food insecurity, you may find your weight is lower than expected. This study suggests that in the US, food insecurity is linked to lower BMI, likely due to limited access to food. If you are struggling to afford food, prioritize nutrient-dense, affordable options and seek community resources. Your health is important, and help is available.

LimitedQualifiesLOW confidence
In the US, BMI was inversely associated with the food insecurity score (pilot 2: r = −0.24, P = 0.008).
Maria Carlota Dao et al. · Current Developments in Nutrition · 2020

Why this rating

Small effect size (r=-0.24), small sample, and complex relationship between food insecurity and weight (which can vary by demographic).

Source

Development of a Questionnaire to Assess the Relationship Between Weight Status and Sociocultural Factors

Maria Carlota Dao et al. · Current Developments in Nutrition · 2020

DOI 10.1093/cdn/nzaa063_023

cross_sectional · n=219
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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