- Email: [email protected]
Association between food insecurity and low fruit and vegetable intake in the UK in 2016: a cross-sectional study
Meeting Abstracts
Association between food insecurity and low fruit and vegetable intake in the UK in 2016: a cross-sectional study Narges Ebadi, Davod Ahmadi
Abstract Published Online November 29, 2019 Institute for Global Food Security, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada (N Ebadi MSc, D Ahmadi MSc) Correspondence to: Mrs Narges Ebadi, Institute for Global Food Security, McGill University, Ste-Anne-deBellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada [email protected]
Background Fruit and vegetable intake can promote health through prevention of diseases including obesity, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Food security has been identified as a strong determinant of fruit and vegetable intake. Food-insecure households in high-income societies have lower intakes of fruit and vegetables compared with food-secure households. This study aimed to identify the association between food insecurity and fruit and vegetable intake in the UK and examine the role of sociodemographic factors in fruit and vegetable intake. Methods Data from the 2016 Food and You Survey were analysed (n=3118). As the dependent variable, we used two separate questions regarding the frequencies of eating fruit and vegetables. Household food security was measured by ten questions used by the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service about experiences associated with difficulties in meeting food needs. Sociodemographic factors, such as sex, area of residence, age, marital status, employment status, and level of education, were used in the analyses. We did statistical analyses, including descriptive analyses, crosstabs, and regressions. Findings The prevalence of high fruit and vegetable intake among families with food insecurity was 33%, compared with 47% in food-secure households. Findings from adjusted binary logistic regression analyses revealed that the probability of having low fruit and vegetable intake increased among food-insecure respondents (odds ratio 1·6, 95% CI 1·3–2·0; p<0·0001). Results for controlling variables showed that the odds of having low fruit and vegetable intake increased among respondents with low education (2·3, 1·7–3·0; p<0·0001), and who were single or never married (1·2, 1·0–1·4; p<0·0001). Furthermore, women were more likely to have a high fruit and vegetable intake than were men (0·4, 0·3–0·7; p<0·0001). Interpretation Regardless of region, food security positively affects fruit and vegetable consumption. However, sociodemographic factors and, more specifically, education have considerable effects on fruit and vegetable intake. A key strength of this study is the diverse sample provided by the Food and You Survey from different regions of the UK. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of the study, no causal analyses were done and no changes over time were measured. Funding None. Contributors Both authors contributed to data analyses and drafting the abstract. Declaration of interests We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.
36
www.thelancet.com
Association between food insecurity and low fruit and vegetable intake in the UK in 2016: a cross-sectional study Narges Ebadi, Davod Ahmadi
Abstract Published Online November 29, 2019 Institute for Global Food Security, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada (N Ebadi MSc, D Ahmadi MSc) Correspondence to: Mrs Narges Ebadi, Institute for Global Food Security, McGill University, Ste-Anne-deBellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada [email protected]
Background Fruit and vegetable intake can promote health through prevention of diseases including obesity, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Food security has been identified as a strong determinant of fruit and vegetable intake. Food-insecure households in high-income societies have lower intakes of fruit and vegetables compared with food-secure households. This study aimed to identify the association between food insecurity and fruit and vegetable intake in the UK and examine the role of sociodemographic factors in fruit and vegetable intake. Methods Data from the 2016 Food and You Survey were analysed (n=3118). As the dependent variable, we used two separate questions regarding the frequencies of eating fruit and vegetables. Household food security was measured by ten questions used by the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service about experiences associated with difficulties in meeting food needs. Sociodemographic factors, such as sex, area of residence, age, marital status, employment status, and level of education, were used in the analyses. We did statistical analyses, including descriptive analyses, crosstabs, and regressions. Findings The prevalence of high fruit and vegetable intake among families with food insecurity was 33%, compared with 47% in food-secure households. Findings from adjusted binary logistic regression analyses revealed that the probability of having low fruit and vegetable intake increased among food-insecure respondents (odds ratio 1·6, 95% CI 1·3–2·0; p<0·0001). Results for controlling variables showed that the odds of having low fruit and vegetable intake increased among respondents with low education (2·3, 1·7–3·0; p<0·0001), and who were single or never married (1·2, 1·0–1·4; p<0·0001). Furthermore, women were more likely to have a high fruit and vegetable intake than were men (0·4, 0·3–0·7; p<0·0001). Interpretation Regardless of region, food security positively affects fruit and vegetable consumption. However, sociodemographic factors and, more specifically, education have considerable effects on fruit and vegetable intake. A key strength of this study is the diverse sample provided by the Food and You Survey from different regions of the UK. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of the study, no causal analyses were done and no changes over time were measured. Funding None. Contributors Both authors contributed to data analyses and drafting the abstract. Declaration of interests We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.
36
www.thelancet.com