Rates of Food Insecurity and Health Impacts for Parents and Children Enrolled in a Rural Pediatric Obesity Intervention Study

Background: Food insecurity can influence mental and physical health and also indicates increased risk for overweight/obesity. Families in rural communities experience more overweight/obesity and unique barriers with food access. Little research has examined the potential mental and physical health impact of being food insecure in a sample of youth with overweight/obesity within a rural community. This study compares prevalence of food insecurity in a treatment-seeking sample to state and national population averages and tests food insecurity’s influence on parent/child mental health, child dietary intake, and parent/child body mass. Methods: Parent/child dyads in rural Kansas (n = 148) recruited based on child weight status (i.e., above 85th percentile) completed measures of household food insecurity, eligibility for free and reduced-price lunch, mental health, and child dietary intake, as well as standardized height/weight at baseline for a family-based healthy lifestyles intervention study. Findings: Results indicate the rate of food insecurity (25%) and child healthy eating index scores (M = 51.01, SD = 8.40) were significantly elevated compared to population metrics (ps < .001); however, eligibility for free and reduced price lunch in this sample (50%) was similar to national and state averages. Families with food insecurity, compared to those in the study who were food secure, exhibited significant differences (ps < .05) regarding: poorer parent mental health, higher parent BMI, and increased sugar-sweetened beverage intake for children. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need to assess and address food insecurity in family-focused obesity interventions, especially among families living in rural areas.