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Cited by 319Food Security and Health in Diverse PopulationsObesity, Physical Activity, DietChild Nutrition and Water Access

Food insecurity and child health

Open access
Thomas, Margaret M.C., Miller, Daniel P., Morrissey, Taryn W.·2019·Pediatrics
DOI 10.1542/peds.2019-0397
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Food insecurity is an important public health problem facing children in the United States. Although a number of previous studies suggest that food insecurity has negative impacts on health, these studies have not dealt thoroughly with issues of selection bias. We use propensity scoring techniques to approximate the causal effects of food insecurity on children’s health and health care use outcomes. METHODS: We use nationally representative data from the 2013–2016 waves of the National Health Interview Study (N = 29 341). Using inverse probability of treatment weighting, a propensity scoring method, we examine a broad range of child health outcomes and account for a comprehensive set of controls, focusing on a sample of children 2 to 17 years old. RESULTS: Household food insecurity was related to significantly worse general health, some acute and chronic health problems, and worse health care access, including forgone care and heightened emergency department use, for children. Compared to rates had they not been food insecure, children in food-insecure household had rates of lifetime asthma diagnosis and depressive symptoms that were 19.1% and 27.9% higher, rates of foregone medical care that were 179.8% higher, and rates of emergency department use that were 25.9% higher. No significant differences emerged for most communicable diseases, such as ear infections or chicken pox, or conditions that may develop more gradually, including anemia and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Policies used to reduce household food insecurity among children may also reduce children’s chronic and acute health problems and health care needs.

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Crossref · 10.1542/peds.2019-0397

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  • Dominant groups may prevent culturally traumatized groups from restoring or gaining needed cultural and other flexible resources through multiple mechanisms at structural, interpersonal, and inaction levels.

    “There are multiple ways that dominant groups may prevent culturally traumatized groups from restoring or gaining needed cultural and other flexible resources.”

    From Cultural trauma as a fundamental cause of health disparities (2022) · cites this paper as Thomas et al., 2019

  • Food insecurity in children is associated with adverse effects on general health, iron deficiency, behavioral and emotional problems, higher emergency department utilization and hospitalization rates, and lower math and reading gains.

    “Identifying children in households experiencing FI is essential because of the adverse effects on their general health, iron deficiency, behavioral and emotional problems, higher emergency department utilization and hospitalization rates, and lower math and reading gains [5,6,7].”

    From Food Insecurity Screening and Referral Practices of Pediatric Clinicians in Metropolitan Washington, DC (2024) · cites this paper as [6]

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Authors
Thomas, M. M. C., Miller, D. P., & Morrissey, T. W.
Affiliations
  • Boston University (US)
  • American University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Pediatrics
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Published
2019-10-01
Volume
144
Issue
4
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
DOI
10.1542/peds.2019-0397
OpenAlex
W2972400730
Cited by
319
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 72 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 2
FWCI
33.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • American University Research Archive
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
Keywords
food insecurity, child health, household food insecurity, health care access, emergency department utilization, asthma, depressive symptoms, chronic disease, selection bias
MeSH terms
Acute Disease, Adolescent, Asthma, Child, Child, Preschool, Chronic Disease, Depression, Emergency Service, Hospital, Food Supply, Health Services Accessibility, Health Status Indicators, Humans, Skin Diseases, United States, Propensity Score

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