Food insecurity, diet quality, and mental health in culturally diverse adolescents

LaChance, Laura; Martin, Michael S.; Kaduri, Pamela; Godoy-Paiz, Paula; Ginieniewicz, Jorge; Tarasuk, Valerie; McKenzie, Kwame

doi:10.1108/eihsc-02-2013-0002

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Poor or inadequate diet quality due to food insecurity can eventually lead to psychological stress (34). The association between lack of enough food and decline in diet quality has been shown in previous studies (35,36). However, due to the cross-sectional nature of the present study, establishing a causal relationship is impossible and this is probable that the decrease in mental health causes lower income and which leads to further food insecurity (37).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 41%

Food Insecurity is Related to Women's Mental and Physical Health in Babolsar, Iran

Ahmadi¹,

Heshmat²,

Vedadhir³

et al. 2017

Nutr Food Sci Res

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A B S T R A C TBackground and Objectives: Food insecurity has some adverse effects on health. Studies show that, there is a significant relationship between poor mental and physical health and food insecurity among low-income households. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between household food insecurity and physical and mental health in Iranian women with high school age children. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 289 women with high school aged children in Babolsar, Iranin spring 2015. General Information Questionnaire, 18-item USDA household food security questionnaires and health survey (SF-12) was completed by face-to-face interviews with the participants. The mental and physical health of the participants were compared based on food secure and food insecure group.Results: Food insecurity was significantly related to age of the participants, living area (urban/rural), husbands job and education of women studied (p<0.05). Also, food insecurity was significantly associated with poor physical health score (β=-1.079, P<0.001) and mental health (β=-0.728, P<0.001). This relationship remained significant after adjusting for age, family size, residential area, education, job, husband's job and education.Conclusions: Therefore, household food insecurity is an independent risk factor for poor mental and physical health in women with high school aged children. The findings of this research provide insights for the future as the crucial role of woman and their significant impact on food security and the health status of the household can be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at women with children.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 41%

Food Insecurity is Related to Women's Mental and Physical Health in Babolsar, Iran

Ahmadi¹,

Heshmat²,

Vedadhir³

et al. 2017

Nutr Food Sci Res

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“…Adolescent age is associated with stress that can lead to over-or under-eating [57]. There are various studies that have associated emotional symptoms, stress in life, life satisfaction, food insecurity, family stressors, dietary practices, and physical activity buffers with obesity and weight gain, in culturally diverse adolescents [57,58]. In SA, favorable socioeconomic factors, cultural factors, access and availability of food, education and age have been reported to affect the choice of what local people eat especially in children and adolescents, and this can affect their health [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences among Saudi and Expatriate Students: Body Composition Indices, Sitting Time Associated with Media Use and Physical Activity Pattern

Alghadir

Iqbal

Gabr

2020

IJERPH

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Background: Being overweight at a young age is a predictor of developing obesity and related complications later in adulthood, posing a high risk to public health. Various ethnic subgroups have been identified as having a higher prevalence of overweight or obese. Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, where the expatriate population comprises 33% of its total population. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in body composition indices, sitting time associated with media use, and physical activity pattern among a sample of local and expatriate school students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: 500 students (aged 8–18 years) from various schools were invited to participate in this study. Body weight, waist circumference (WC) and height were measured using a portable digital metric scale, standard measuring tape and wall mounted tape respectively. Participants and their parents were jointly asked to report the average time that the participant spent sitting using media (watching TV, playing video games, and using the internet and other screen-based devices etc.) per day. The pattern of physical activity among participants was measured using a short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and total daily energy expenditure (TEE) were estimated from body weight, height, age, sex and physical activity, according to the Harris–Benedict equation. Results: Data from 450 (90%) of the participants were used for analysis. The mean age of the participants was 14.55 ± 1.74 years. Body mass index (BMI), WC, waist to height ratio (WHtR), BMR and TEE differed significantly among the participants. Physical fitness score negatively correlated with BMI and WC, while sitting time associated with media use positively correlated with BMI, WC, WHtR and physical fitness score, among both Saudi and expatriate participants. Conclusions: Body composition indices and sitting time associated with media use were higher among Saudi boys and expatriate girls. Expatriate boys and girls were reported to be physically more active than their Saudi counterparts. BMR and TEE were higher among expatriate boys and Saudi girls. Although this study provides useful information about the association of body composition indices, sitting time associated with media use, and physical activity pattern among local and expatriate school students in SA, similar studies involving a larger study sample, with equal gender representation, are further required to determine various factors associated with this link.

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“…Participants did mention experiencing food insecurity in reference to the past or to others. This might be due to feelings of discomfort or shame when disclosing personal experiences with food insecurity during an interview [48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Needs and perceptions regarding healthy eating among people at risk of food insecurity: a qualitative analysis

Velde

Schuilenburg

Thrivikraman

et al. 2019

Int J Equity Health

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BackgroundHealthy eating behaviour is an essential determinant of overall health. This behaviour is generally poor among people at risk of experiencing food insecurity, which may be caused by many factors including perceived higher costs of healthy foods, financial stress, inadequate nutritional knowledge, and inadequate skills required for healthy food preparation. Few studies have examined how these factors influence eating behaviour among people at risk of experiencing food insecurity. We therefore aimed to gain a better understanding of the needs and perceptions regarding healthy eating in this target group.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative exploration grounded in data using inductive analyses with 10 participants at risk of experiencing food insecurity. The analysis using an inductive approach identified four core factors influencing eating behaviour: Health related topics; Social and cultural influences; Influences by the physical environment; and Financial influences.ResultsOverall, participants showed adequate nutrition knowledge. However, eating behaviour was strongly influenced by both social factors (e.g. child food preferences and cultural food habits), and physical environmental factors (e.g. temptations in the local food environment). Perceived barriers for healthy eating behaviour included poor mental health, financial stress, and high food prices. Participants had a generally conscious attitude towards their financial situation, reflected in their strategies to cope with a limited budget. Food insecurity was mostly mentioned in reference to the past or to others and not to participants’ own current experiences. Participants were familiar with several existing resources to reduce food-related financial strain (e.g. debt assistance) and generally had a positive attitude towards these resources. An exception was the Food Bank, of which the food parcel content was not well appreciated. Proposed interventions to reduce food-related financial strain included distributing free meals, facilitating social contacts, increasing healthy food supply in the neighbourhood, and lowering prices of healthy foods.ConclusionThe insights from this study increase understanding of factors influencing eating behaviour of people at risk of food insecurity. Therefore, this study could inform future development of potential interventions aiming at helping people at risk of experiencing food insecurity to improve healthy eating, thereby decreasing the risk of diet-related diseases.

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Food insecurity, diet quality, and mental health in culturally diverse adolescents

Cited by 20 publications

References 22 publications

Food Insecurity is Related to Women's Mental and Physical Health in Babolsar, Iran

Food Insecurity is Related to Women's Mental and Physical Health in Babolsar, Iran

Differences among Saudi and Expatriate Students: Body Composition Indices, Sitting Time Associated with Media Use and Physical Activity Pattern

Needs and perceptions regarding healthy eating among people at risk of food insecurity: a qualitative analysis

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