Child Food Insecurity Increases Risks Posed by Household Food Insecurity to Young Children’s Health

Author(s): John T. Cook, PhD; Deborah A. Frank, MD; Suzette M. Levenson, MEd, MPH; Nicole B. Neault, MPH; Tim C. Heeren, PhD; Maureen M. Black, MD; Carol Berkowitz, MD; Patrick H. Casey, MD; Alan F. Meyers, MD; Diana B. Cutts, MD; Mariana Chilton, PhD

Published in: The Journal of Nutrition: Symposium: Food Assistance and the Well-Being of Low-Income Families

This article investigates whether child food insecurity (CFI) increases household food insecurity (HFI) and its effects on the health of young child and whether the Food Stamp Program (FSP) modifies these effects. In a sample of 17,158 caregivers of children <36 months, those with HFI had significantly greater adjusted odds of fair/poor health and being hospitalized since birth, and those with H&CFI had even greater adverse effects. Participation in FSP was found to reduce, but not eliminate, effects of FI on fair/poor health.

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Child Food Insecurity Increases Risks Posed by Household Food Insecurity to Young Children’s Health

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