Prospective study of black-white differences in food insufficiency among homebound elders

Objective: This study examines race differences in the association of sociodemographic and health-related characteristics with change in food sufficiency status over 1 year in homebound older adults. Method: Using sociodemographic and health-related data collected during two in-home assessments as part of the North Carolina Nutrition and Function Study, logistic regression models (binary and nominal outcomes) adjusted for covariates and examined the characteristics associated with 1-year change in risk (RPI) and presence (FI) of food insufficiency among a random sample of 268 home-delivered meals participants. Results: Not having enough money for food and having to prepare cheaper and smaller meals was associated with increased RFI and FI at 1 year; having to borrow money for food, loss of food stamps, and inadequate income increased the odds among Whites, and increased medication use among Blacks. Discussion: The findings suggest that race, independent of other characteristics, is associated with diminished food sufficiency over 1 year.