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Differences in the prevalence of obesity by race/ethnicity and adult food security status among US adults
Author(s) -
MelgarQuiz Hugo,
Taylor Christopher
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1004-c
Subject(s) - ethnic group , obesity , medicine , demography , body mass index , race (biology) , food security , national health and nutrition examination survey , vulnerability (computing) , gerontology , environmental health , geography , population , endocrinology , botany , computer security , archaeology , sociology , anthropology , computer science , biology , agriculture
To assess differences in prevalence of obesity by race/ethnicity and adult food security status (ADFDSEC), we examined a sample of US adults from four race/ethnic groups (Mexican Americans ‐ MA, Other Hispanics − OH, Non‐Hispanic Whites ‐ NHW, and Non‐Hispanic Blacks ‐ NHB) (n=7,601) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. Obesity was defined as having a Body Mass Index = 30 or higher. ADFDSEC was categorized into four groups: 1) Fully food secure (FFS); 2) Marginally food secure (MFS); 3) Food insecure without hunger (FINH); and 4) Food insecure with hunger (FIH). Using a complex samples general linear model, a significant interaction (p<.001) was found between race/ethnicity, gender and ADFDSEC with regards to the prevalence of obesity. In the four racial/ethnic groups prevalence of obesity was higher among FINH females (MA=37.8%, OH=41.5%, NHW=52.2%, NHB=70%) when compared to FFS females (MA=35.3%, OH=34.9%, NHW=29.3%, NHB=50.5%), as well as when comparing MFS females with FFS females in all racial/ethnic groups except for NHB females. Similar trends were found among OH and NHW males when comparing FFS and MFS groups. The findings support research on the association between obesity and mild/moderate food insecurity among women. Although this condition affects women of all race/ethnic groups, its magnitude is larger among NHW and NHB females. This study supports the stratification of food secure households in FFS and MFS groups, since the latter show a higher vulnerability to obesity.