Food Insecurity Associated With Cardiometabolic Markers in Hispanic and Latino Youth: Study

Hispanic and Latino youth with limited access to nutritionally adequate food – and especially those whose parents were foreign-born -- had worse cardiometabolic profiles than their “food secure” counterparts, according to a study published in the March 2022 Pediatrics. The study, “Food Insecurity and Cardiometabolic Markers: Results from the Study of Latino Youth” (published online March 16), recruited 1,325 Hispanic and Latino youth, ages 8-16, between 2012 and 2014 from the Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and San Diego, CA. The authors analyzed cardiometabolic markers that included waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These markers are known to be associated with diseases in adults such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, suggesting possible health implications for youth, according to research. The authors found that Hispanic and Latino youth with severe food insecurity are at higher risk of cardiometabolic complications than their food-secure peers. The findings also suggested that the health implications of food insecurity may be greater among youth with foreign-born parents or caregivers and whose families did not receive any food assistance in the previous year. The authors suggest that healthcare providers consider early screening for food insecurity to identify youth who may benefit from additional resources.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.