Energy balance
Household food insecurity is significantly associated with higher rates of parental overweight and obesity, primarily driven by the consumption of cheaper, energy-dense foods and reduced access to nutrient-dense options.
If you are struggling to afford food, prioritize calorie density from healthy sources if possible, but recognize that the system makes healthy food more expensive per calorie. The risk of obesity in food-insecure households is real and driven by the economics of food, not just lack of knowledge. Look for programs that subsidize fruits and vegetables to make them more accessible.
Food-insecure parents were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese... Food-insecure parents were more likely to serve unhealthy foods, such as sugar-sweetened beverages and less likely to serve fruits and vegetables at family meals... calories tend to be less expensive for unhealthy, calorie-laden foods; thus, food-insecure households may be making less healthful decisions to make their food dollar stretch.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=2095) and multivariate regression, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Source
Feeding a Family in a Recession: Food Insecurity Among Minnesota Parents
Meg Bruening et al. · American Journal of Public Health · 2012
DOI 10.2105/ajph.2011.300390
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