Dietetics and Nutrition Department, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
Ecol Food Nutr. 2021 Nov-Dec;60(6):697-706. doi: 10.1080/03670244.2021.1881895. Epub 2021 Jan 28.
Food insecurity continues to be high despite the increasing use of emergency food assistance. Research shows that food insecurity among food pantry clients is over 50-70%. Despite the high rates, there remains the paradox of people who are both food insecure and obese. Limited research has examined links between obesity, food insecurity, and food pantry clients. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between food security, weight, and sociodemographic factors of clients at the largest food pantry in Alaska. On-site surveys were completed with 148 clients between February and March of 2018. Descriptive statistics, chi-square models, and a multivariate logistic regression were used to describe participants and determine any associations. Alaska food pantry clients are primarily over 45 years old, work at least part time, and make less than $25,000 per year. A majority of participants (n = 148) were either overweight or obese (69.6%) and food insecure (88.4%). No significant associations were found between weight and food security status. Despite the lack of statistical significance, results help understand pantry clients' demographic, food security, and weight status. Providing emergency food assistance and addressing underlying causes of food insecurity or obesity, such as the ability to access healthy food, are needed first steps.
尽管紧急食品援助的使用不断增加，但粮食无保障问题仍然严重。研究表明，食品储藏室客户的粮食无保障率超过 50-70%。尽管比率很高，但仍然存在一个悖论，即人们既粮食无保障又肥胖。有限的研究调查了肥胖、粮食无保障和食品储藏室客户之间的联系。这项横断面研究调查了阿拉斯加最大食品储藏室客户的粮食安全、体重和社会人口因素之间的关系。2018 年 2 月至 3 月期间，对 148 名客户进行了现场调查。采用描述性统计、卡方模型和多变量逻辑回归来描述参与者并确定任何关联。阿拉斯加食品储藏室的客户主要年龄在 45 岁以上，至少兼职工作，年收入低于 25000 美元。大多数参与者（n=148）超重或肥胖（69.6%）且粮食无保障（88.4%）。体重和粮食安全状况之间没有发现显著关联。尽管没有统计学意义，但结果有助于了解食品储藏室客户的人口统计、粮食安全和体重状况。提供紧急食品援助和解决粮食无保障或肥胖的根本原因，如获取健康食品的能力，是首先需要采取的措施。
