Diet quality is low among female food pantry clients in Eastern Alabama.
OBJECTIVE
Examine diet quality, food security, and obesity among female food pantry clients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A food pantry in Lee County, Alabama.


METHODS
Fifty-five female food pantry clients between 19 and 50 years of age.


METHODS
Diet quality using United States (US) Department of Agriculture Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005), adult obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] > or = 30 kg/m(2)), household food security (US Department of Agriculture Module).


METHODS
Analysis of variance and multivariate models.


RESULTS
Diet quality of the women was generally poor, with a mean HEI of a 43 on a 100 point scale. Having low education level (less than a high school degree) and being a smoker were related to lower overall diet quality. Sixty-seven percent of the clients were obese while 65% percent were food insecure.


CONCLUSIONS
Food pantry clients are characterized by high levels of food insecurity, obesity and poor diet quality. Smoking was associated with food insecurity and low diet quality. Increased outreach efforts to improve nutrition education and to help food pantry clients stop smoking could be beneficial.
Duffy
Patricia
P
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. pduffy@acesag.auburn.edu
Zizza
Claire
C
Jacoby
Jocelynn
J
Tayie
Francis A
FA
D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011203:Poverty; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult