title: Food security status among grade 5 students in Nova Scotia, Canada and its association with health outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Food security (FS) exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their needs. The present research sought to determine whether students from households experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (FI) had poorer diet quality, higher body weights and poorer psychosocial outcomes than students from households classed as having high FS or marginal FI status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based survey conducted in schools. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore associations between FS status (high FS; marginal, moderate, severe FI), dietary behaviours and intake, and health-related outcomes (body weight, quality of life, mood, peer relationships, externalizing problems).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nova Scotia, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grade 5 students (n 5853), aged 10-11 years, with complete information on FS status and student outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this sample, rates of household FS were 73·5% (high FS), 8·3% (marginal FI) 10·2% (moderate FI) and 7·1% (severe FI status). Students living in households experiencing moderate or severe FI had poorer diet quality, higher BMI and poorer psychosocial outcomes than students classed as having high FS or marginal FI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide important evidence for policy makers on the prevalence of FI among families in Nova Scotia with grade 5 children and its relationship with childhood nutrition, psychosocial and quality of life factors, and weight status.
authors: 1School of Health and Human Performance,Dalhousie University,PO Box 15000,Halifax,NS B3H 4R2,Canada.
authors: Sara F L
authors: SF
authors: Kirk
authors: 3Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit,Dalhousie University,Halifax,NS,Canada.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Kuhle
authors: 1School of Health and Human Performance,Dalhousie University,PO Box 15000,Halifax,NS B3H 4R2,Canada.
authors: Jessie-Lee D
authors: JL
authors: McIsaac
authors: 5Department of Nutrition and Dietetics,Mount Saint Vincent University,Halifax,NS,Canada.
authors: Patty L
authors: PL
authors: Williams
authors: 5Department of Nutrition and Dietetics,Mount Saint Vincent University,Halifax,NS,Canada.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Rossiter
authors: 4School of Public Health,University of Alberta,Edmonton,AB,Canada.
authors: Arto
authors: A
authors: Ohinmaa
authors: 4School of Public Health,University of Alberta,Edmonton,AB,Canada.
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Veugelers
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children; Diet quality; Food insecurity; Food security; Health outcomes; Psychosocial factors; Quality of life; Schools; Weight status