Household marginal food security is associated with poorer self-rated health in Korean adults.

The evidence for whether marginal food security (FS) is a distinct category from high FS concerning self-rated health (SRH) is insufficient. This cross-sectional study hypothesized that members of marginal FS households would have worse SRH than those of high FS households. Additionally, this study explored whether this association differs according to gender and age group (19-59 years vs. ≥60 years). FS levels (high, marginal, and low), SRH levels (very good, good, fair, poor, and very poor), and confounding factors (sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and health status) were assessed in 18,635 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Complex sampling ordinal regression was conducted. Twelve percent of study subjects belonged to marginal FS households. After adjusting for all confounding variables, the odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] for poorer SRH in members of marginal FS households were 1.24 [1.10-1.41] (P < .001) than those of high FS. The interaction between FS level and gender or age was not significant. Regardless of gender, members of marginal FS households rated their health worse than those of high FS households (odds ratios, 1.25-1.34; P < .05). In the age group of 19 to 59 years, members of marginal FS households rated their health worse than those of high FS households. The association between marginal FS and poorer SRH was not significant in the age group ≥60 years. In conclusion, the research hypothesis was acceptable because members of marginal FS households had worse SRH than those of high FS households.