Objective: Here we analyzed the relationship of the food insecurity with overweight and food consumption in schoolchildren of Mexico City.
Materials and methods: Sample (n=768) students of six primary schools of Mexico City. Socioeconomic status and food insecurity were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. According to food security-insecurity, the students were categorized in three groups (food secure, moderate food insecure and severe food insecure). Food consumption frequency was evaluated with a questionnaire. It was considered that students were overweight when their Z score values of body mass index (BMI) to age was greater than +2 standard deviations, according to CDC reference.
Results: The highest rate of overweight was observed in children with severe food insecurity (15.8%), followed by children with moderate food insecurity (10.4%), and by food secure children (6.9%). The same pattern was observed after adjusting by age, sex and socioeconomic status. The students with food insecurity had greater consumption of fatty cereals, salty foods and high energy density sweets.
Conclusion: In schoolchildren, food insecurity is related to greater risk of overweight, possibly because the more food insecure households acquire more low cost and high energy density foods.