title: Who Is Food Insecure? Implications for Targeted Recruitment and Outreach, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2010.
abstract: Food insecurity is negatively associated with health; however, health needs may differ among people participating in food assistance programs. Our objectives were to characterize differences in health among people receiving different types of food assistance and summarize strategies for targeted recruitment and outreach of various food insecure populations.
  
  
  
  We examined health status, behaviors, and health care access associated with food insecurity and receipt of food assistance among US adults aged 20 years or older using data from participants (N = 16,934) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 through 2010.
  
  
  
  Food insecurity affected 19.3% of US adults (95% confidence interval, 17.9%-20.7%). People who were food insecure reported poorer health and less health care access than those who were food secure (P < .001 for all). Among those who were food insecure, 58.0% received no assistance, 20.3% received only Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, 9.7% received only food bank assistance, and 12.0% received both SNAP and food bank assistance. We observed an inverse relationship between receipt of food assistance and health and health behaviors among the food insecure. Receipt of both (SNAP and food bank assistance) was associated with the poorest health; receiving no assistance was associated with the best health. For example, functional limitations were twice as prevalent among people receiving both types of food assistance than among those receiving none.
  
  
  
  Receipt of food assistance is an overlooked factor associated with health and has the potential to shape future chronic disease prevention efforts among the food insecure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390. Email: sandi.pruitt@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Sandi L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pruitt
authors.affiliation: University of Dallas, Irving, Texas.
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.affiliation: The Hunger Center, North Texas Food Bank, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amory
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Robin T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Oanh Kieu
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: University of Dallas, Irving, Texas.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pezzia
authors.affiliation: University of Dallas, Irving, Texas.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swales
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D063105:Food Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States