1. Emily Altman MPH Capstone, Spring 2017
The association between food insecurity and body satisfaction among children in California
Emily Altman
MPH Capstone, Spring 2017

2. Background: Food Insecurity
Defined as the uncertain or limited ability to obtain adequate food due to lack of financial resources or access
Affects 13 million children in the United States
Associated with poor health outcomes,
body mass index (BMI), and racial/ethnic
disparities
Health outcomes: cognitive problems, anxiety, increased hospitalizations, asthma, and poor oral health, poor mental health, and unhealthy dietary intake
Racial disparities: FI higher among minority populations, with 25% of black non-Latino households and 22% of Latino households with children facing food insecurity. Conversely, 13% of white non-Latino households and 13% of other non-Latino households with children are FI

3. Background: Low Body Satisfaction
Defined as being unhappy with your height, weight, body shape, body build, or health
Affects up to 46% of children in the United States
Associated with poor health outcomes, BMI, and racial/ethnic disparities
Health outcomes: disordered eating, smoking cigarettes, low self-esteem and depression
Racial disparities: Latino, Asian American, and white children struggle with body- and weight-related concerns and behaviors more than black children

4. Research Hypothesis Race/ ethnicity BMI Child food insecurity
Low body satisfaction
Age
Gender

5. Methods Data from the Fit Study Cross-sectional
Surveyed children in grades 4-8 in 76 schools in California
N=14,870
3 categories food insecurity
2 categories body satisfaction
Multivariate logistic regression
Adjusted for age, gender
Tested for effect modification
by BMI and race/ethnicity
Define confounders and cross sectional

6. Results: overall
Child food insecurity was associated with higher odds of lower body satisfaction
Effect modification by BMI and race/ethnicity

7. Results: by BMI & Race/Ethnicity

8. Results: normal weight white children
Moderately food insecure children had 2.12 times the odds of low body satisfaction
Highly food insecure children had 2.14 times the odds of low body satisfaction
- Moderately food insecure children had 2.12 times the odds of low body satisfaction than food secure children
Highly food insecure children had 2.14 times the odds of low body satisfaction than food secure children
NOTE: all food insecure white children more prone to low body satisfaction, not just normal weight

9. Results: overweight black children
Moderately food insecure children had 1.99 times the odds of low body satisfaction
Highly food insecure children had 1.81 times the odds of low body satisfaction

10. Results: obese black children
Moderately food insecure children had 2.00 times the odds of low body satisfaction
Highly food insecure children had 1.88 times the odds of low body satisfaction

11. Results: normal weight Latino children
Moderately food insecure children had 0.77 times the odds of low body satisfaction

12. Results: normal weight Asian children
Moderately food insecure children had 0.72 times the odds of low body satisfaction

13. Discussion White children overall have lower body satisfaction
Food insecurity associated with low body satisfaction among normal weight  synergistic relationship
Black children overall have higher body satisfaction
Food insecurity associated with low body satisfaction among overweight/obese  nuanced relationship
Asian and Latino children overall have lower body satisfaction
Food insecurity associated with high body satisfaction among normal weight  contradictory

14. Limitations Temporality could not be assessed
Missing covariates (mental health, self-esteem, parental wellbeing, socio-economic position)
Loss of power with stratification
Self-reported measures

15. Implications
This is the first study to look at this association among children
The findings point to a complex relationship between food insecurity and body satisfaction
Future research is needed to further understand this relationship among children

16. Questions? A special thank you to: Kris Madsen Lorrene Ritchie
Maureen Lahiff
Lia Fernald
Jenny Linchey
Hannah Kleiner
PHN Cohort

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