Work

Combined effects of disease management and food insecurity on physical and mental health in Korean adults

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the combined effects of disease management and food insecurity on physical and mental health in a representative Korean population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2012-2015. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged ≥30 years (n 17 934) who participated in the KNHANES. RESULTS: Among health-care factors, unmet health-care needs and mental health counselling were different by food insecurity status, with a higher prevalence in adults with food insecurity. The prevalence of underweight was higher in men with food insecurity (5·9 %), whereas the prevalence of obesity was higher in women with food insecurity (37·4 %), than that in men and women with food security. Food insecurity was associated with a high risk of all mental health outcomes. For the combined effects of disease management and food insecurity, unmet health-care needs was related to increased risk of obesity for food-insecure men (Pinteraction = 0·029) and lack of participation in nutrition education or counselling was related to increased risk of obesity for food-insecure women (Pinteraction = 0·010). In addition, higher unmet health-care needs in adults with food insecurity was related to higher risk of mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Unmet health-care needs may exacerbate obesity for food-insecure men and mental health problems for both food-insecure men and women. In addition, lack of participation in nutrition education or counselling may exacerbate the obesity for food-insecure women.

Source: Public Health Nutrition

DOI: 10.1017/s1368980019003094

Authors: Hyun Ja Kim, Kirang Kim

Institutions: Gangneung–Wonju National University, Dankook University

Language: English

Topic: Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation of Korea, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention