Food Insecurity and Malnutrition among Indian Older Adults: Findings from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-18

Abstract

The study aims to assess the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition and to investigate the association between food insecurity, sociodemographic characteristics, and malnutrition among Indian older adults. Data for 28,004 older adults (60 + years) was extracted from Wave-1 of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, 2017-18. Bivariate analysis was used for prevalence estimates. Multinomial logistic regression provided relative risk ratios (RRR) to determine the association. About 45% of older adults were food insecure and nearly half were malnourished (underweight − 26.7%, overweight − 22.2%). Overweight was widespread in southern, western, and northern India, while underweight and food insecurity were widespread in central, eastern, and north-eastern India. Food insecure older adults were significantly more likely to be underweight (mild: RRR = 1.105, 95% CI = 1.038–1.176; severe: RRR = 1.327, 95% CI = 1.186–1.485). Rather than severe food insecurity, those with moderate food insecurity have the least likelihood of being overweight. Being the oldest, male, widowed, divorced/separated/deserted, having fewer years of schooling, living in a ST or SC household, and in rural areawere associated with higher risk of being underweight; while their other counterparts were of being overweight. No association was found between working status and underweight, meanwhile the non-working older adults were less likely to be overweight (RRR = 0.804, 95% CI = 0.744–0.868). Underweight is strongly linked to food insecurity. In terms of food insecurity and malnutrition, the most vulnerable categories identified include oldest old, widowed, divorced/separated/deserted, SC, ST, economically weaker, and persons without or with only a few years of formal education.

Association of Food Insecurity With Malnutrition and Cognitive Status in Elderly Referred to Outpatient Clinics of Milad Hospital in Tehran

“…Logistic regression analyses also proved this significant association, even after adjustment for confounders. This suggests that food insecurity may be one of the most important and influential factors that can independently lead to malnutrition in the elderly populations with low SES, which is in accordance with previous studies 46,47. Different studies show a direct relationship between food insecurity and malnutrition in the elderly 37,46,48–50.…”

“…This suggests that food insecurity may be one of the most important and influential factors that can independently lead to malnutrition in the elderly populations with low SES, which is in accordance with previous studies. 46,47 Different studies show a direct relationship between food insecurity and malnutrition in the elderly. 37,46,[48][49][50] In fact, people with food insecurity often do not have enough access to healthy food, which can result in malnutrition.…”

Decomposing the Caste Gap in Food Insecurity among the Older Adults in India: Evidence from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-18.

“…In India, approximately 45% of older individuals experienced food insecurity, with roughly half being malnourished (underweight: 26.7%, overweight: 22.2%), particularly older persons from SC/ST communities, which have a higher prevalence of severe and moderate food insecurity. This may be due to their distant, detached residential settings with limited economic accessibility [22]. The Global Food Security Index 2022 ranks India 68th out of 113 nations, scoring 58.9 points.…”

The impact of food insecurity on mental health among older adults residing in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

“…Older adults residing in LMICs often have no social safety nets, no fixed income, inadequate access to health infrastructure, and are not priorities for the government [ 25 – 27 ]. As a result, older adults are more vulnerable to food insecurity [ 28 , 29 ].…”