Food insecurity as a predictor of metabolic syndrome in U.S. female adults

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between household food insecurity and metabolic syndrome in the U.S. female adult population. DESIGN: We analyzed the 2007-2014 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. SAMPLE: Sample included 4,249 female adults who had complete data on metabolic syndrome components, household food security, and important potential socio-demographic predictors of metabolic syndrome. MEASUREMENTS: Household food security was categorized as full, marginal, low, and very low. F-tests were used to compare those in full food security households and those in each of the other food security category households for prevalence and potential socio-demographic predictors of metabolic syndrome. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between household food security and metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Women in low food security households were significantly more likely to have a waist circumference ≥88 cm and to have fasting glucose >100 mg/dl. Women in very low food security households were significantly more likely to have high density lipoprotein <50 mg/dl. Women in low and very low food security households were significantly more likely to have triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that women in low and very low food security households are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome.