Food insecurity and disordered eating: Associations among adults with and without children.

Abstract

Food insecurity affects over 10% of U.S. households, with higher rates among families with children. Emerging evidence suggests that food insecurity may contribute to disordered eating behaviors. This study explored the prevalence of food insecurity and its associations with restrictive, compensatory and binge-eating behaviors among parents and adults without children (non-parents) using data from two interrelated population-based cohorts (N= 3,216) recruited from public schools in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area as part of the Project EAT studies. Adjusting for adult age, food insecurity was more prevalent among parents (23%) than non-parents (14%). Food insecurity was associated with more disordered eating, including restrictive behaviors and binge eating in both parents and non-parents, self-induced vomiting and smoking in parents, and laxative misuse in non-parents. Strengths of associations did not differ by parental status except for fasting to control weight, which was more strongly associated with food insecurity among parents. The elevated rates of food insecurity among parents and its association with disordered eating point to a dual risk for health consequences. These behaviors may perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of disordered eating, as children often model caregivers' habits. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing both food insecurity and disordered eating, especially among parents, to mitigate adverse outcomes and break the cycle of unhealthy eating patterns across generations. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing effective strategies that support vulnerable populations, improve health outcomes, and foster healthier eating behaviors within families.