Food Security Concerns Among Young People: Impact on Eating Behaviors and Weight Status

Abstract

The current article aims to examine the extent of food security concerns experienced by adolescents in New Zealand in 2007 and examine the impact of food security on student eating behaviors and weight status. Data were collected as part of a national health and well-being survey of secondary school students in New Zealand. More than one third of secondary school students reported that their families worried about having enough money for food sometimes or more often. Food security concerns were positively associated with overweight/obesity and negatively associated with healthy eating behaviors. We found no association between food security and the consumption or home availability of junk foods. Future research is needed to understand how ongoing threats to food security will affect the healthy development of young people.

Keywords:

• adolescent
• food security
• obesity
• nutrition

Acknowledgments

The Youth'07 survey was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (grant 05/216), the Department of Labour, the Families Commission, the Accident Compensation Corporation of New Zealand, Sport and Recreation New Zealand, the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, and the Ministries of Youth Development, Justice, and Health.