Increasing food insecurity severity is associated with lower diet quality

Authors

Katherine Kent, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
Tracy Schumacher, The University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health
Sebastian Kocar, University of Tasmania
Ami Seivwright, University of Tasmania
Denis Visentin, University of Tasmania
Clare E. Collins, University of Newcastle, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Libby Lester, University of Tasmania

Publication Name

Public Health Nutrition

Abstract

Objective: Food insecurity may reduce diet quality but the relationship between food insecurity severity and diet quality is under-researched. This study aimed to examine the relationship between diet quality and severity of household food insecurity. Design: A cross-sectional, online survey used the USDA Household Food Security Six-item Short Form to classify respondents as food secure or marginally, moderately, or severely food insecure. The Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS; scored 0–73) determined diet quality (ARFS total and sub-scale scores). Survey-weighted linear regression (adjusted for age, sex, income, education, location, household composition) was conducted. Setting: Tasmania, Australia Participants: Community dwelling adults (aged 18 years and over) Results: The mean ARFS total for the sample (n=804, 53% female, 29% aged >65 years) was 32.4 (SD=9.8). As the severity of household food insecurity increased, ARFS total decreased. Marginally food insecure respondents reported a mean ARFS score three points lower than food-secure adults (B=-2.7; 95%CI [-5.11, -0.34]; p=0.03), and reduced by six points for moderately (B=-5.6; 95%CI [-7.26, -3.90]; p<0.001) and twelve points for severely food insecure respondents (B=-11.5; 95%CI [-13.21, -9.78]; p<0.001). Marginally food insecure respondents had significantly lower vegetable sub-scale scores, moderately food insecure respondents had significantly lower sub-scale scores for all food groups except dairy, severely food insecure respondents had significantly lower scores for all sub-scale scores. Conclusions: Poorer diet quality is evident in marginally, moderately, and severely food insecure adults. Interventions to reduce food insecurity and increase diet quality are required to prevent poorer nutrition-related health outcomes in food-insecure populations in Australia.

Open Access Status

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