Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of obesity and physical limitations with food insecurity among Georgians participating in the Older Americans Act (OAA) congregate meal-site program (N = 621, median age = 76 years, 83% female, 36% Black, and 64% White, convenience sample). Food insecurity was assessed using the modified 6-item US Household Food Security Survey Module; obesity was defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) class I or II obesity; and physical limitations (arthritis, joint pain, poor physical function, weight-related disability) were based on the Disablement Process. A series of multivariate logistic regression models found weight-related disability and obesity (WC class II) may be potential risk factors for food insecurity. Thus, obesity and weight-related disability may be risk factors to consider when assessing the risk of food insecurity and the need for food assistance in this vulnerable subgroup of older adults.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 150-169 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2010 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research project was supported by Georgia Division of Aging Services, the 12 Georgia Area Agencies on Aging, the Department of Foods and Nutrition and the Georgia Agricultural Experimentation, University of Georgia (HATCH #GEO 00576), and a Doctoral Dissertation Award, University of Georgia to Dr. Dawn Brewer.
Keywords
- BMI
- Food insecurity-obesity paradox
- Older adults
- Physical function
- Physical limitations
- Waist circumference
- Weight-related disability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
