Herkimer and Oneida Counties Census Data Affiliate: The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Obesity Rates

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Obesity Rates

A recent release by Child Trends on food insecurity and obesity shows a link between a lack of food and increases in body mass index, especially among children. As they observe, "Ironically, child food-insecurity is also associated with a greater risk for being overweight. While the processes underlying this association are not completely understood, food insecurity can result in lower diet quality and less variety, both of which can contribute to being overweight, and unpredictable availability of food can lead to overeating."

They go on to point out that in 2011, 22 percent of children under 18 lived in food-insecure households, and one percent in households with very low food security among children specifically. To learn more about food insecurity in our region visit this previous post about food insecurity in Herkimer and Oneida Counties.

Below are the most recent statistics from the New York State Health Department on obesity rates for New York State as a whole, for the upstate (non-New York City) region, for Herkimer County, and for Oneida County. Click on any of them to enlarge them.

Ironically, child food-insecurity is also associated with a greater risk for being overweight. - See more at: http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=food-insecurity&utm_source=E-News%3AObesity+Month+and+Kids+without+Food&utm_campaign=E-News+9+5+13&utm_medium=email#sthash.g2ll0CmT.dpuf