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The prevalence of household food security, which reflects adequacy and stability of the food supply, has been measured periodically in the United States and occasionally in high-risk groups or specific regions. Despite a plausible biological mechanism to suggest negative health outcomes of food insecurity, this relation has not been adequately evaluated. This study was conducted in the Lower Mississippi Delta region to examine the association between household food insecurity and self-reported health status in adults. A two-stage stratified cluster sample representative of the population in 36 counties in the Delta region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi was selected using list-assisted random digit dialing telephone methodology. After households were selected and screened, a randomly selected adult was interviewed within each sampled household. Data were collected to measure food security status and self-reported mental, physical, and general health status, using the U.S. Food Security Survey Module and the Short Form 12-item Health Survey (SF-12). Data were reported on a sample of 1488 households. Adults in food-insecure households were significantly more likely to rate their health as poor/fair and scored significantly lower on the physical and mental health scales of the SF-12. In regression models controlling for income, gender, and ethnicity, the interaction between food insecurity status and race was a significant predictor of fair/poor health and lower scores on physical and mental health. Household food insecurity is associated with poorer self-reported health status of adults in this rural, high-risk sample in the Lower Mississippi Delta. KEY WORDS: * community nutrition * food insecurity * health status

Context. Studies examining the association between food insecurity and obesity in adults have produced conflicting results, and information is limited on the relationship between food insecurity and adult chronic health conditions, particularly in a high-risk population. Objective. To examine the association between household food insecurity and self-reported weight status and chronic disease in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Design. A two-stage stratified cluster sample representative of the population in 36 counties in the Lower Delta. Data were collected in a cross-sectional telephone survey using list assisted random digit dialing telephone methodology. Setting and Participants. A randomly selected sample of 1,457 adults from a free-living population. Main Outcome Measures. US Food Security Survey Module, self-reported height and weight status (obesity = body mass index > 30 kg/m²), and self-reported hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and a marker for metabolic syndrome. Results. In food-insecure adults, 42.3% were obese, a significantly higher rate than food secure adults (33.2%). After controlling for demographic variables, food insecurity was not independently associated with obesity. Income and the interaction between race and gender were significant predictors of obesity. Food insecure adults were significantly more likely to report hypertension (45.1% vs. 29.5%) diabetes (15.0% vs. 9.3%), heart disease (13.5% vs. 6.8%) and metabolic syndrome (10.1% vs. 4.4%). After controlling for demographic variables, food insecurity was associated with high cholesterol (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.65; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.0 to 2.7), heart disease (OR 2.7: 95% CI, 1.5 to 4.8), and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.5). Conclusions. The relationship between food insecurity and obesity in a high-risk population, may be due to income and demographic variables. Individuals in a rural high-risk population with high cholesterol, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome have a high likelihood of being food-insecure. Nutritional interventions targeting high-risk populations should address food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]