title: Assessment of Food Intake, Obesity, and Health Risk among the Homeless in Rhode Island.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the nutritional status, incidence of food insecurity, and health risk among the homeless population in Rhode Island.
  
  
  METHODS
  This correlational study utilized a convenience sample of 319 homeless adults from Rhode Island's largest service agency for the homeless. Information on use of services such as access to emergency foods, shelters, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was requested.
  
  
  METHODS
  Food security was measured by the six-item subset of the USDA Food Security Core Module. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, and waist circumference. A 24-hr dietary recall was collected to determine the food intake for a subset of participants who agreed to supply this information (n = 197).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Average dietary recall data indicated insufficient intake of vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meats/beans. It also indicated excessive intake of fats. Of the 313 participants, 29.4% were overweight and 39% were obese. Over 94% of the participants were food insecure, with 64% of this subset experiencing hunger. Fifty-five percent of the participants were currently receiving SNAP benefits. The majority of the sample was found to be food insecure with hunger.
authors: College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.
authors: Diane C
authors: DC
authors: Martins
authors: Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.
authors: Kathleen S
authors: KS
authors: Gorman
authors: School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
authors: Robin J
authors: RJ
authors: Miller
authors: College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.|Frontier Nursing University, Hyden, Kentucky.
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: Murphy
authors: College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.
authors: Sekboppa
authors: S
authors: Sor
authors: Pharmacy Resident, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine.
authors: Jonah C
authors: JC
authors: Martins
authors: Pharmacy Resident, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Vecchiarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D063105:Food Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; food security; homelessness; nutrition