Food Insecurity and Prediabetes among Adolescents Taking a School-based Survey

Abstract

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is a correlate of poor health throughout the life course. This study examines relationships between FI and reported prediabetes among middle-high school students taking a school-based survey. Methods: Data are from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 125,375). Logistic regression was used to examine relationships between youth past month FI and reported prediabetes in analyses adjusting for demographics, low quality dietary intake (fast food and sugar sweetened beverage), and cardiometabolic indicators (physical activity, sleep duration, body mass index). Analyses were stratified by youth race-ethnic identification. Results: Almost one in 20 youth reported past month FI. In fully adjusted models, the associations between youth FI and prediabetes differed by race-ethnic identification, and were robust to sociodemographic, diet, and cardiometabolic correlates for some groups (eg, NH black, African, African-American students [AOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.12-3.14]; Hispanic, Latino/a students [AOR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.14-2.97]; and NH white students [AOR: 2.83, 95% CI: 2.14-3.73]). Conclusions: FI was associated with race-ethnic disparities in youth prediabetes. Tailored approaches to address food quality, access and other social drivers may reduce youth risk of prediabetes.