Food Insecurity is Associated with Adverse Health Outcomes among Human Infants and Toddlers

The purpose of this study was to determine whether household food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes in a sentinel population ages ≤36 months.  In a sample of 11,539 caregivers of children ≤ 36 months 21.4% were food insecure.  In a logistic regression, adjusting for confounders, food-insecure children had odds of “fair or poor” health nearly twice as great and odds of being hospitalized since birth almost a third larger than food-secure children. Ensuring food insecurity for young, low-income children may reduce health problems, including the need for hospitalizations.