Aim <p>To explore the associations between food insecurity (FI) with dietary quality and markers of mental well-being, gastrointestinal symptoms, and immune status among United Kingdom (UK)-based adults.</p> Subject and methods <p>An online questionnaire was administered to 953 UK-based adults, including 210 individuals living with FI, to evaluate FI status, diet quality, and a series of health outcomes. FI was measured using the six-item US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey. Diet quality was assessed using the Easy Diet Screener. Health outcomes included markers of mental well-being (Perceived Stress Scale and GAD-7 [generalised anxiety disorder seven-item scale]), gastrointestinal symptoms (Short Health Scale for gastrointestinal symptoms), and self-reported immune status (Immune Status Questionnaire, cumulative incidence of self-reported infections [CISRI] score, and antibiotic use). Cross-sectional associations were explored using logistic regression, with data presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p> Results <p>Participants living with FI had almost threefold greater odds of following a Western dietary pattern (OR = 2.67, 95% CI [1.85, 3.91], <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). FI was associated with multiple negative health outcomes including greater odds of high perceived stress (OR = 3.12, 95% CI [2.10, 4.63], <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), reduced self-reported immune status (OR = 1.91, 95% CI [1.31, 2.77], <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 2.30, 95% CI [1.39, 3.75], <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001).</p> Conclusion <p>These findings support the accumulating body of evidence that FI is linked with multiple adverse health outcomes and highlight it as a multi-system health risk factor. Tackling FI should be a major public health and policy priority.</p>

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Food insecurity and self-reported markers of health across multiple body systems: associations with diet quality, mental well-being, gut symptoms, and immunity

  • Chiara de Lucia,
  • Anastasia Aliferi,
  • Sorrel Burden,
  • Dilara Dericioglu,
  • Elizabeth M. L. Duxbury,
  • Sarah Gregory,
  • John McLaughlin,
  • Manpreet Kaur Mujral,
  • Courtney Neal,
  • Elena Philippou,
  • Natalie Riddell,
  • Anna C. Whittaker,
  • Oliver M. Shannon

摘要

Aim

To explore the associations between food insecurity (FI) with dietary quality and markers of mental well-being, gastrointestinal symptoms, and immune status among United Kingdom (UK)-based adults.

Subject and methods

An online questionnaire was administered to 953 UK-based adults, including 210 individuals living with FI, to evaluate FI status, diet quality, and a series of health outcomes. FI was measured using the six-item US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Household Food Security Survey. Diet quality was assessed using the Easy Diet Screener. Health outcomes included markers of mental well-being (Perceived Stress Scale and GAD-7 [generalised anxiety disorder seven-item scale]), gastrointestinal symptoms (Short Health Scale for gastrointestinal symptoms), and self-reported immune status (Immune Status Questionnaire, cumulative incidence of self-reported infections [CISRI] score, and antibiotic use). Cross-sectional associations were explored using logistic regression, with data presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Participants living with FI had almost threefold greater odds of following a Western dietary pattern (OR = 2.67, 95% CI [1.85, 3.91], p < 0.001). FI was associated with multiple negative health outcomes including greater odds of high perceived stress (OR = 3.12, 95% CI [2.10, 4.63], p < 0.001), reduced self-reported immune status (OR = 1.91, 95% CI [1.31, 2.77], p < 0.001), and gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 2.30, 95% CI [1.39, 3.75], p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These findings support the accumulating body of evidence that FI is linked with multiple adverse health outcomes and highlight it as a multi-system health risk factor. Tackling FI should be a major public health and policy priority.