Household Food Insecurity Is Associated With Higher Adiposity Over Time Among Adolescents in Louisiana.

Food-insecure adolescents showed significantly greater increases in BMI percent of the 95th percentile (BMIp95) over 2 years compared to food-secure adolescents.

• The regression coefficient was b = 6.0% ± 2.2%, p = 0.0082
• Study included 222 adolescents from the TIGER Kids study in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Baseline data collected June 2016–December 2017; follow-up January 2018–August 2019
• 11.3% of participants were food insecure at baseline
• Multivariable multilevel models were used to assess associations

Food-insecure adolescents exhibited significantly greater increases in waist circumference over 2 years compared to food-secure adolescents.

• The regression coefficient was b = 4.1 ± 1.7 cm, p = 0.0158
• Waist circumference was collected using anthropometry
• The sample was 50.5% female, 37.4% non-White or Hispanic, and 31.5% had obesity at baseline
• Mean baseline age was 12.9 ± 1.9 years

Food-insecure adolescents showed significantly greater increases in total body fat percentage over 2 years compared to food-secure adolescents.

• The regression coefficient was b = 3.0% ± 1.3%, p = 0.0194
• Total body fat percentage was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
• Household food security was measured using a validated two-question parent-reported survey

Food-insecure adolescents exhibited significantly greater increases in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass over 2 years compared to food-secure adolescents.

• The regression coefficient was b = 0.16 ± 0.06 kg, p = 0.0163
• Visceral adipose tissue was measured using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• VAT is a clinically important depot associated with cardiometabolic risk

The effect of household food insecurity on longitudinal changes in adiposity did not differ by sex.

• Sex was examined as a potential moderator of the association between food insecurity and adiposity
• No statistically significant interaction between food insecurity and sex was found for any adiposity outcome
• The sample was approximately evenly split by sex (50.5% female)

The study sample had notable rates of obesity and food insecurity at baseline.

• 31.5% of participants had obesity at baseline
• 11.3% were classified as food insecure at baseline
• 37.4% were non-White or Hispanic
• Mean baseline age was 12.9 ± 1.9 years
• Total analytic sample included 222 adolescents