{"title":"The food insecurity–obesity paradox: a comparison of three obesity measures and sociodemographic disparities in Korean adults","authors":"Sukyoung Jung, Sohyun Park","doi":"10.1002/oby.24311","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objective</h3>\n \n <p>We explored the impact of food insecurity on three different measures of obesity, that is, estimated percentage body fat (PBF), BMI, and waist circumference (WC), and examined the presence of sociodemographic disparities.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019–2021 (<i>n</i> = 12,447, aged ≥30 years). Food insecurity was evaluated using an 18-item modified version of the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Three obesity measures were defined: PBF ≥25% for men or ≥35% for women, BMI ≥25 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, and WC ≥90 cm for men or ≥85 cm for women. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate odds ratio (OR) values with 95% CI.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Of those measured, 4% of households experienced food insecurity (men 3.7%, women 4.6%). In women, food insecurity was positively associated with PBF-defined obesity (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03–1.81) but not with BMI- or WC-defined obesity. When analyzed by sociodemographic factors, positive associations between food insecurity and PBF-defined obesity were observed in older women and urban residents but not in their counterparts.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>Food insecurity seems to have a stronger positive association with PBF than with BMI or WC among Korean women, especially those who are older and reside in urban areas.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":215,"journal":{"name":"Obesity","volume":"33 7","pages":"1395-1403"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Obesity","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.24311","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
We explored the impact of food insecurity on three different measures of obesity, that is, estimated percentage body fat (PBF), BMI, and waist circumference (WC), and examined the presence of sociodemographic disparities.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019–2021 (n = 12,447, aged ≥30 years). Food insecurity was evaluated using an 18-item modified version of the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Three obesity measures were defined: PBF ≥25% for men or ≥35% for women, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, and WC ≥90 cm for men or ≥85 cm for women. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate odds ratio (OR) values with 95% CI.
Results
Of those measured, 4% of households experienced food insecurity (men 3.7%, women 4.6%). In women, food insecurity was positively associated with PBF-defined obesity (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03–1.81) but not with BMI- or WC-defined obesity. When analyzed by sociodemographic factors, positive associations between food insecurity and PBF-defined obesity were observed in older women and urban residents but not in their counterparts.
Conclusions
Food insecurity seems to have a stronger positive association with PBF than with BMI or WC among Korean women, especially those who are older and reside in urban areas.
期刊介绍:
Obesity is the official journal of The Obesity Society and is the premier source of information for increasing knowledge, fostering translational research from basic to population science, and promoting better treatment for people with obesity. Obesity publishes important peer-reviewed research and cutting-edge reviews, commentaries, and public health and medical developments.