Food Insecurity and Obesity Among American Indians and Alaska Natives and Whites in California

Abstract

Food insecurity is linked to obesity among some, but not all, racial and ethnic populations. We examined the prevalence of food insecurity and the association between food insecurity and obesity among American Indians (AIs) and Alaska Natives (ANs) and a comparison group of whites. Using the 2009 California Health Interview Survey, we analyzed responses from 592 AIs/ANs and 7371 white adults with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Food insecurity was measured using a standard 6-item scale. Sociodemographics, exercise, and obesity were all obtained using self-reported survey data. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations. The prevalence of food insecurity was similar among AIs/ANs and whites (38.7% vs 39.3%). Food insecurity was not associated with obesity in either group in analyses adjusted for sociodemographics and exercise. The ability to afford high-quality foods is extremely limited for low-income Californians regardless of race. Health policy discussions must include increased attention on healthy food access among the poor, including AIs/ANs, for whom little data exist.

[Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition to view the free supplemental file: Supplemental Tables.doc.].

Keywords:

• obesity
• Native Americans
• American Indians
• food insecurity

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by National Cancer Institute grants U54 CA153498 (Native People for Cancer Control: A Community Networks Program), P50CA148110 (Collaborative to Improve Native Cancer Outcomes, a Center for Native Population Health Disparities), and P30 AG15292 (Native Elder Research Center, a Resource Center for Minority Aging Research).