Food Insecurity Is Associated with Higher Risk for Premature Death and Shorter Life Expectancy in U.S. Adults

Food insecurity (i.e., disrupted dietary patterns and food intake potentially leading to inadequate consumption of healthful food) is associated with adverse health outcomes including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, prior research has relied on binary variables (e.g., food secure or not secure), and we know little about the relation between food insecurity and life expectancy. In this study, researchers used data on 57,000 adults (mean age, 46) who completed the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018. Food-security levels (very low, low, marginal, or full) were assessed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Survey Module. The National Death Index was used to determine asso…