Household food insecurity, dietary intake and weight status in children of Mexican descent: Results of a binational study

Household food insecurity is defined as limited availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods and limited ability to acquire foods in a socially acceptable way. Food insecurity may lead to periodic overeating or consumption of energy-dense foods which can affect weight status. Children of Mexican descent residing in migrant communities in the US and Mexico are at high risk for food insecurity. We conducted a binational study using cross-sectional samples of 5-year-old children from migrant communities in California (n=284) and Mexico (n=301) to compare the effect of household food insecurity on children's diet and weight status. Equivalent recruitment and data collection methodologies were used in both sites. In California, children experiencing food insecurity in the last 12 months, as defined by the USDA scale, consumed more calories and a greater percentage of their energy intake came from fat and saturated fat than children from food-secure households (p<0.05). However, household food insecurity was not associated with child weight status in the California sample (OR 1.3 95% CI 0.5, 3.0). In Mexico, children from food-insecure households consumed fewer calories and had lower levels of micronutrient intake than children from food-secure households (p<0.05). The odds for being at risk of overweight or overweight was 3.8 (95% CI 1.4, 10.6) times higher for children from food-insecure households compared to food-secure households in Mexico. Understanding dietary and weight status consequences of food insecurity in children of Mexican descent residing in migrant communities in the US and Mexico can inform interventions for this population.