The Association of Food Insecurity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors May Be Independent of Body Mass Index

Abstract

Background: Investigations on food insecurity have shown that food insecurity is negatively associated with health. We examined the association of food insecurity, cardiometabolic risk factors, and dietary patterns in women. Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed on 190 females referred to primary health care centers in Shiraz, Iran. Food insecurity was assessed by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Cardiometabolic risk factors including anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, and serum glucose and lipids were measured. Diet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results: Cardiometabolic risk factors increased across food insecurity levels (P<0.001 to 0.009). Two healthy and 1 unhealthy dietary patterns were extracted. Food insecure participants consumed less meats, dairy, fruit, and vegetables but more processed meats (P<0.001). Intake of fat, cholesterol, and sodium increased and that of fiber, vitamins A and C, folic acid, potassium, and calcium decreased along with increasing food insecurity. Food secure individuals had better eating habits than food insecure participants. Cardiometabolic risk factors except triglycerides had inverse associations with heathy and positive associations with unhealthy dietary patterns (P<0.05). The associations between food insecurity and cardiometabolic risk factors were independent of age, sex, education level, and body mass index (BMI).Conclusions: Overall, food insecurity was associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and less healthier dietary patterns. The association between food insecurity and cardiometabolic risk was independent of demographic factors and BMI, suggesting that other factors such as diet and eating habits may have contributed to the exacerbated cardiometabolic risk factors in food insecure individuals.