Food Insecurity Is Associated with Mental–Physical Comorbidities among U.S. Adults: NHANES 2013 to 2016

LaToya J. O’Neal, Ara Jo, Lisa Scarton and Marino A. Bruce
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LaToya J. O’Neal: Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Ara Jo: Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Lisa Scarton: Department of Family, Community and Health Systems Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Marino A. Bruce: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: The co-occurrence of mental and physical conditions has increased significantly during the last decade. However, research examining the influence of social factors such as food insecurity is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between food insecurity and mental–physical comorbidity status among U.S. adults. Data for this analysis were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2013–2016. Respondents ages 18 and older who reported at least one of three chronic conditions (i.e., type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia) and responded to a nine-item depression scale were included in the analytic sample. The prevalence of food insecurity among those with depression and a cardiometabolic condition was 34% compared to 13% among those with a cardiometabolic condition only. Findings from multinomial logistic regression models indicated that food insecurity was associated with higher risk of mental–physical comorbidity (OR: 3.6, 95% CI: 2.26–5.76). Respondents reporting poor diet and poor self-reported health had higher odds of comorbid depression and cardiometabolic conditions. Female respondents had increased odds of comorbid depression and cardiometabolic conditions. Food insecurity is associated with co-occurring depression and cardiometabolic disease and may have implications for disease management.

Keywords: food insecurity; comorbidity; depression; chronic conditions; NHANES; cardiometabolic conditions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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