Examining Factors Related to the Food Insecurity-Obesity Paradox in Low-Income Mothers and Fathers

Abstract

Background: Prior research has indicated a varying relationship of food security and obesity risk between men and women yet factors affecting this relationship are unclear.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine factors related to the gender disparity in the food insecurity-obesity paradox within a sample of low-income parents.

Methods: Low-income cohabiting mother and father pairs (n = 25) living with their child were interviewed individually using the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Module, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and Coping Strategies Index to examine gendered factors related to the food insecurity-obesity paradox.

Results: There was a significant (P = .003) difference in report of adults in the household sacrificing consumption to feed young children between mothers (2.91 ± 0.92) and fathers (3.59 ± 0.73), with mothers reporting greater sacrifice and compromised diet quality to feed their children, but no significant correlation among body mass index, depression, and food insecurity was detected.

Conclusions: Food insecure mothers may be more likely to compromise their diet quality to feed their children than fathers. This could help explain why the food insecurity-obesity paradox is significant only in women, and this work gives insights into gender-based differential consequences of food insecurity.

Keywords: health surveys; household food insecurity; obesity; poverty.