Food insecurity and weight-loss efforts among a nationally representative sample of US adults with higher weight

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of food insecurity among a nationally representative sample of US adults who were attempting weight loss, as well as the associations of food insecurity with weight-loss strategies.

Methods

This study included adults with BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m² who were intentionally trying to lose weight within the past year from the 2017 to March 2020 data cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. Participants were categorized as either food insecure or food secure (US Food Security Survey Module), and their use of weight-loss strategies was compared using unadjusted logistic regression models and models adjusted for sociodemographics.

Results

Nearly one-quarter (22.96%, n = 582) of participants were food insecure. In unadjusted models, participants with food insecurity were more likely to use unhealthy weight-loss methods (e.g., skipping meals, taking laxatives or vomiting) and less likely to use healthy methods (e.g., exercising, joining a weight-loss program; p < 0.05). In adjusted models, participants with food insecurity were less likely to join a weight-loss program and eat less sugar, candy, and sweets.

Conclusions

Food insecurity is common among US adults with higher weight who are trying to lose weight, and individuals with food insecurity are less likely to use healthy weight-loss strategies.