Food insecurity as a predictor of metabolic syndrome in U.S. female adults.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between household food insecurity and metabolic syndrome in the U.S. female adult population.

DESIGN

We analyzed the 2007-2014 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

SAMPLE

Sample included 4,249 female adults who had complete data on metabolic syndrome components, household food security, and important potential socio-demographic predictors of metabolic syndrome.

MEASUREMENTS

Household food security was categorized as full, marginal, low, and very low. F-tests were used to compare those in full food security households and those in each of the other food security category households for prevalence and potential socio-demographic predictors of metabolic syndrome. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between household food security and metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

Women in low food security households were significantly more likely to have a waist circumference ≥88 cm and to have fasting glucose >100 mg/dl. Women in very low food security households were significantly more likely to have high density lipoprotein <50 mg/dl. Women in low and very low food security households were significantly more likely to have triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that women in low and very low food security households are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome.