title: Nutritional outcomes related to household food insecurity among mothers in rural Malaysia.
abstract: During the past two decades, the rates of food insecurity and obesity have risen. Although a relationship between these two seemingly-paradoxical states has not been repeatedly seen in men, research suggests that a correlation between them exists in women. This study examines nutritional outcomes of household food insecurity among mothers in rural Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey of low-income households was conducted, and 223 households with mothers aged 18-55 years, who were non-lactating, non-pregnant, and had at least one child aged 2-12 years, were purposively selected. A questionnaire was administered that included the Radimer/Cornell Scale, items about sociodemographic characteristics, and anthropometric measurements. Of the households, 16.1% were food-secure whereas 83.9% experienced some kind of food insecurity: 29.6% of households were food-insecure, 19.3% contained individuals who were food-insecure, and 35.0% fell into the 'child hunger' category. The result reported that household-size, total monthly income, income per capita, and food expenditure were significant risk factors of household food insecurity. Although there was a high prevalence of overweight and obese mothers (52%) and 47.1% had at-risk waist-circumference (> or = 80 cm), no significant association was found between food insecurity, body mass index, and waist-circumference. In conclusion, the rates of household food insecurity and overweight and obesity were high in the study population, although they are looking paradoxical. Longitudinal studies with larger sample-sizes are recommended to further examine the relationship between food insecurity and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ihabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rohana
authors.affiliation: Program of Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150 Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wan Manan
authors.affiliation: Program of Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150 Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Wan Suriati
authors.affiliation: Program of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zalilah
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: A Mohamed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rusli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult