To examine the association between household food insecurity (HFI) and low subjective well-being (SWB) among pregnant and postpartum women and determine whether these potential associations differed by maternal age and pregnancy status.

We conducted a secondary analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional data from women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Household food insecurity (HFI) was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and categorized as none/mild, moderate or severe. Weighted multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between HFI and low levels of three SWB measures: happiness, life satisfaction and optimism. Analyses were stratified by age and pregnancy status.

Data were drawn from the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, Round 6.

The analytic sample comprised 12,587 women who were pregnant at the time of the survey or within 24 months postpartum.

Household food insecurity was significantly associated with all three measures of SWB, although the magnitude of associations varied by outcome, even after adjusting for individual-, household- and community-level characteristics. Stratified analyses revealed heterogeneity in the associations between HFI and SWB by age and pregnancy status. Overall, HFI was associated with lower levels of happiness, life satisfaction and optimism among pregnant and postpartum women in Nigeria.

Our findings demonstrate a negative association between HFI and SWB among pregnant and postpartum women in Nigeria. These associations were modified by maternal age and pregnancy status, suggesting that strategies to mitigate HFI should account for subgroup differences in order to effectively improve maternal well-being.

Food insecurity (FI) prevalence has increased globally, including in the USA, and disproportionately affects certain subgroups (e.g. women). Both food-related and non-food-related sociopolitical indicators may impact FI rates; however, these associations are underexplored. This study assessed select state-level sociopolitical indicators among states with higher and lower FI rates compared to the national average.

Cross-sectional

US

We identified twenty-five states representing lower (n 18) and higher (n 7) FI prevalence compared to the 2021–2023 US average (12·2 %) and used national data sources to characterise sixteen sociopolitical indicators (selected via prior review) across three categories: (1) proximal to FI (related to food access/income/resources), (2) inequality (contributing to disparities) and (3) tobacco/alcohol/cannabis regulation (may exacerbate/perpetuate financial constraints). We described each indicator and explored their associations (using t tests or Fisher’s tests) with state FI status (high v. low).

For proximal indicators, low-FI (v. high-FI) states had greater food environment scores, nutrition assistance programme participation, minimum wage and insured individuals. For inequality indicators, low-FI (v. high-FI) states had narrower gender wage gaps, greater racial equity and more protective policies for sexual/gender minority populations and abortion rights. For substance-related indicators, low-FI (v. high-FI) states had higher cigarette taxes and were more likely to have comprehensive smoke-free laws, legalised non-medical cannabis and provisions for expunging/pardoning prior cannabis-related convictions.

Low-FI states had more sociopolitical indicators aimed at improving food access, financial resources, equality and substance use-related regulations. Findings highlight the importance of adopting a holistic, sustainable, multilevel approach to effectively address the broader determinants of FI.

Across school and community-based contexts, nutritional education interventions are often associated with improvements in a range of food-related and health-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the nutritional education component of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme in England was similarly associated with changes in these outcomes for children who attend.

A quasi-experimental, mixed-factorial 3 (School) × 3 (Group) × 2 (Time) design was employed. Outcome variables were liking and frequency of trying new foods, perceived cooking competence and health-related quality of life.

Pre-post data were collected at three primary schools in one local authority in the North East of England at two time points (before and after the summer holidays).

A non-probability, purposive sample of 169 children (mean age = 9·4 years, sd = 0·54) self-selected into groups of children who did not attend HAF over the summer holidays (No HAF; n 123), attended their school-based HAF club (HAF; n 29) or attended their school-based HAF club alongside a bespoke nutritional education programme (NEP) (HAF NEP; n 17).

Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U analyses found no significant between-group differences for any outcome, apart from perceived cooking competence. HAF NEP was associated with improved perceived cooking competence.

Standard HAF was not associated with improved outcomes related to nutritional education. The HAF NEP group was associated with improved cooking competence only. The lack of significant findings in the intervention groups suggests that further research into HAF nutritional education is required.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Lebanese adults living with underweight, overweight or obesity, assess and compare the cost of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) with that of the current dietary consumption pattern and explore diet cost as a determinant of living with underweight, overweight or obesity.

Data for this nationally representative cross-sectional study were collected through sociodemographic questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, the Arab Family Food Security Scale and dietary assessments using a validated FFQ and 24-h recalls. Diet costs were calculated based on 2023 market prices using purchasing power parity. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with BMI.

Lebanon, using data representative of the Lebanese adults’ population.

444 Lebanese residents aged 18–64 years.

Overall, 66·2 % of the participants were living with underweight (4·3 %), overweight (37·8 %) or obesity (24·1 %). On average, the cost of following MD ranged from Intl.$ 23·36 to Intl.$ 26·49/person/d, whereas a Lebanese adult spent Intl.$ 20·46 on consumption. Only 31·1 % of participants spent an amount equal to or greater than the minimum MD cost (Intl. $23·36/d). Participants who meet or exceed this threshold were 1·59 times more likely to be living with a healthy weight (aOR = 1·59, p = 0·043).

The high prevalence of Lebanese adults living with underweight, overweight or obesity is compounded by the unaffordability of a healthy MD. Improving the affordability of nutritious foods is crucial to promoting healthier dietary patterns and achieving better weight outcomes. Public health strategies should include economic, behavioural and policy-level interventions to enhance diet quality and affordability in crisis-affected populations.

The Spanish agricultural sector depends on seasonal agricultural migrant workers. This study aimed to examine the associations among dietary patterns, sociodemographic factors and food security among seasonal agricultural workers.

A cross-sectional multicentre study. The dietary pattern was evaluated according to the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition recommendations for the adult population. Descriptive analysis was disaggregated according to sex. Multi-adjusted logistic models were used to assess the association between dietary patterns and explanatory variables.

Work sites and temporary accommodations in four Spanish provinces: North Spain: Lleida and La Rioja, and South Spain: Almeria and Huelva.

Male and Female Seasonal Agricultural Migrant Workers (n 623).

The final sample consisted of 609 migrant agricultural workers. Of these, 36 % were female, and 61 % were classified as North African. Overall, 40 % of the participants adhered to the evaluated dietary pattern. Adherence was positively associated with North African nationality, being married or cohabiting and low socio-economic status. Not skipping meals due to economic constraints and receiving food aid emerged as key factors contributing to greater adherence to the assessed dietary pattern.

This study provides an initial insight into the dietary pattern of seasonal agricultural migrant workers in Spain. The findings indicate that external socio-economic and structural factors primarily shape their dietary habits. Policies aimed at enhancing food security, and other food coping strategies, such as access to food aid, are crucial for improving dietary adherence to a healthy dietary pattern.

This study examined the relationship between food safety, food access, and nutritional status among earthquake victims in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay, Türkiye.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted face-to-face with 209 earthquake victims in 2023.

The median age was 42 years, and 52.6% were female. Among women, the perception of unhealthy food, inadequate mass feeding services, and dissatisfaction with meals increased the risk of food safety concerns. In men, those with an associate degree or higher were 20.7 times more likely to perceive food safety as inadequate, while the perception of unhealthy food raised this risk by 12.4 times. Lack of access to sufficient drinking water increased the risk of food inaccessibility by 2.6 times among women. In men, employment and dissatisfaction with meals increased this risk by 2.7 and 2.8 times, respectively. Both genders exhibited inadequate intake of water, energy, protein, polyunsaturated fats, fiber, folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and several vitamins (P <0.05), while phosphorus and sodium levels were elevated (P <0.01).

Food safety and access issues were critical among earthquake victims, significantly impacting nutritional status. Findings emphasize the need for improved emergency food aid and distribution systems to mitigate post-disaster nutritional risks.

To examine how race, income and food insecurity (FI) interact during pregnancy and whether FI contributes to disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.

Observational cohort study employed sequential explanatory a mixed-methods design, with a survey phase (including Household Food Security Survey Module [HFSSM] six-item) and medical record abstraction followed by semi-structured interviews.

Online survey, virtual interviews.

The participants were individuals who gave birth in Louisiana, USA, between June 2020 and June 2021. The quantitative phase comprised 1691 individuals who completed the survey. A nested cohort of forty individuals (evenly split by race (Black v. White) and income (low v. high)) subsequently completed semi-structured interviews.

Race and income were independently associated with both FI and maternal and infant health outcomes. When considering both income and FI, low-income individuals with FI were 1·73 times more likely to deliver low birthweight (LBW) infants (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 95 % CI: 1·07, 2·82) and 1·43 times more likely to experience adverse infant outcomes (aOR 95 % CI: 1·02, 2·00) than high-income individuals without FI. Black individuals with FI were 2·49 times more likely to deliver LBW infants (aOR 95 % CI: 1·45, 4·29) than White individuals without FI. Interview findings revealed low-income individuals faced disproportionate barriers to accessing healthy food and making dietary choices, which were further complicated by pregnancy-related conditions.

The interplay between race, income and FI significantly increases the risk of adverse infant health outcomes, demonstrating a synergistic effect. Targeted efforts to address FI, particularly among low-income pregnant individuals, are essential to improving maternal and infant health outcomes.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are shown to promote disease. Research shows high UPF intake with food insecurity and SNAP participation. However, no research has quantitatively examined UPF acquisitions (which includes purchases) by food insecurity and SNAP status in US households. This analysis examines food insecurity and SNAP participation with UPF acquisitions for home consumption.

Food insecurity was assessed through the ten-item Adult Food Security Survey. Household SNAP participation was considered affirmative if any member of the household reported receiving SNAP benefits. Household UPF acquisitions/purchases for home consumption (as a percentage of total energy acquired/purchased) were determined by the NOVA classification system. Multivariable linear regressions adjusted for household sociodemographic characteristics quantified associations between food insecurity and SNAP participation with UPF acquisitions for home consumption in US households.

The USA.

3949 households from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey.

15·5 % and 13·9 % of US households experienced marginal food security and food insecurity, respectively. Adjusted means for UPF acquisition for home consumption across food security and SNAP categories ranged from 53·2 % to 57·0 %. Marginal food security was associated with 3·8 % higher UPF acquisitions for home consumption (P = 0·0039) compared with households with high food security. However, there was no association with food insecurity or SNAP.

UPF acquisitions for home consumption were high for US households across food security and SNAP categories. Marginal food security was associated with higher UPF acquisitions for home consumption in US households. However, we observed no associations between food insecurity and SNAP participation with UPF acquisitions. More research on drivers of this association for households with marginal food security should be conducted.

A high rate of food insecurity among college students has been documented in various studies. Knowledge gaps exist regarding food insecurity and cultural food access among international college students. We explored the demographic correlations of food insecurity and cultural food access and affordability for international college students.

Cross-sectional online survey from 2 to 16 November 2022.

A public university in the southwestern USA.

Three hundred and thirty-five international undergraduate and graduate students.

About 22 % of the sample reported high food security, 18 % marginal food security, 30 % low food security and 31 % very low food security. Twenty-seven percent reported that they were able to find cultural foods at the university, and 29 % reported that they were able to afford the cultural foods available on campus. Enrolment status, primary caregiver status, housing location and vehicle ownership predicted food security status. Region of origin, gender, being a primary caregiver for an adult with special needs and vehicle ownership were associated with access to cultural foods. Region of origin, being a primary caregiver for children, housing location and vehicle ownership were associated with being able to afford cultural foods on campus. The predictors differ between undergraduate and graduate international students.

Researchers and student services professionals who develop programmes and resources to support international students should consider differences within the group of international students, especially differences by region of origin and degree status (undergraduate v. graduate), and work to ensure students have access to reliable transportation.

Refugees are susceptible to food insecurity. In high-income countries (HIC), settlement workers (SW) provide information, including food security information resources, to newly arrived refugees. Australia has a range of resources, but their use in settlement work is unknown. This study’s aims were to explore SW’s resource use with refugee clients.

This descriptive, qualitative study explored SW’s perceptions regarding resource use. One-on-one interviews, using a semi-structured guide, were conducted. The Technology Acceptance Model’s usage constructs (including Actual Use and Perceived Usefulness) informed the guide and analytical constructs. Under these constructs, emergent usage themes were identified.

Six Australian cities.

Settlement workers.

Fourteen workers were interviewed. Thirteen worked for government-related departments. Most used resources as part of client welcome packs to address acute food insecurity and/or support clinical deficiency issues. Print, pictorial, translated and co-designed resources were perceived to be most useful. Less useful were resources with limited cultural tailoring, translation issues and high literacy demand. There was limited use of digital resources due to variations in clients’ digital access and literacy. Opportunities for improvement include streamlining access, addressing topics such as clinical deficiencies related to food insecurity and increasing culturally nuanced translation.

Development of culturally appropriate resources, facilitating resource access and improved food culture information may help SW better support refugee populations with food security challenges during resettlement in HIC.

To evaluate eligibility and participation in nutrition assistance programmes (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC)) among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults in the USA and to capture their experiences when accessing food benefits.

This was a cross-sectional analysis of the US Transgender Survey (USTS) dataset – the largest survey of TGD adults in the US SNAP and WIC participation and experiences when visiting the public assistance office were reported using descriptive statistics; stratified analyses were conducted based on race using multivariate logistic regression modelling.

The USTS was completed electronically in the USA.

27 715 TGD adults.

Approximately 40·9 % of the full sample were SNAP eligible, yet only 30·6 % of those eligible were receiving the benefit; 0·45 % of the sample reported receiving WIC. TGD adults avoided the public assistance office because they feared being mistreated (3·2 %), were identified as transgender (46·2 %), were denied equal treatment (6·5 %) or were verbally harassed (5·2 %). People of colour were more likely to be denied equal treatment and verbally harassed at the public benefits office than their white peers. The impact of age, education level, employment status, relationship status and census region varied within each racial group.

Far more TGD adults need food assistance compared with the general population, yet fewer are receiving the benefit. Culturally informed interventions are urgently needed to resolve the root causes of food insecurity, increase SNAP participation and address the negative experiences of TGD adults when accessing food benefits.

To describe and evaluate nutrition-related policy, system and environmental (PSE) change strategies implemented in a rural, volunteer-run Georgia food pantry, exploring facilitators and barriers and changes in clients’ perceptions of food distributed following implementation of nutrition-related PSE changes.

The mixed-methods evaluation used pre-post key informant interviews, client surveys and programme documents to assess implementation and outcomes of a nutrition policy and other PSE changes.

Hancock County, Georgia.

Survey respondents were food pantry clients who completed surveys both in January 2021 and March 2022 (n 155). Key informants were programme staff, a local coalition member and food pantry leadership (n 9).

Nutrition-related PSE changes included a nutrition policy, produce procurement partnerships and enhanced refrigeration; an awareness campaign and nutrition education were also conducted. Facilitators included the implementation approach (e.g., encouraging small steps and joint policy development), relationship formation and partnerships. Barriers were modest capacity (e.g., funding and other resources), staffing/volunteers and limited experience with food policy and procurement processes. Client surveys in 2021–2022 showed canned/dried foods as most commonly received, with significant (p < 0.05) increases at follow-up in always receiving meat/poultry/seafood and significant decreases in always receiving canned fruits and dry beans/lentils. In both 2021 and 2022, substantial proportions of respondents reported food insecurity (>60 %), having obesity (>40 %), poor/fair health (>30 %) and a household member with hypertension/high blood pressure (>70 %).

Nutrition-related PSE changes in rural food pantries to improve the healthfulness of foods distributed require substantial resources, yet if sustained, may increase client access to healthy foods and improve diets.