Height differences and the associations between food insecurity percentage body fat and BMI among men and women

Objective: The present Study examined the associations between adult food insecurity (FI) and percentage body fat (%BF) and BMI, stratified by height (HT). Design, setting and subjects: %BF, HT and BMI of 2117 men and 1909 women in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002 were analysed in relation to adult food security status using multiple regression procedures. Results: Compared with the fully food-secure, men's %BF, BMI and HT were lower as 171 intensified. Marginal food security among women was associated with 1.3 cm shorter HT, P=0.016. Marginal food Security among women who were below median HT was associated with about 2.0kg/m(2) higher BMI, P=0.042. %BF was not associated with FI among women. Conclusions: FI is associated with shorter HT and lower %BF and BMI in men. Women's HT should be considered in the reported associations between FI and higher BMI.