A recent research study explored the relationship between food access in local neighborhoods during early life and the development of body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk in children. The outcomes of this study highlight the significance of neighborhood food availability. Living in neighborhoods with low income and limited food options during pregnancy or early childhood is associated with a notable increase in BMI z-scores and raises the likelihood of obesity and severe obesity by more than 50% as children transition into adolescence. Therefore, enhancing local resources to improve food access for pregnant individuals and young children could be essential in combating child obesity.
The lack of access to nutritious food stemming from living in under-resourced neighborhoods is a major public health issue. This new study indicates that being in such areas during pregnancy or early childhood greatly increases the risk of obesity and severe obesity as children grow into their teenage years.
The study results were published on September 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
While past studies have identified a connection between food insecurity and obesity in adults, crucial early developmental periods, like pregnancy and early childhood, often do not receive enough attention, even though they present better opportunities for intervention and can significantly impact long-term health trajectories.
The occurrence of food insecurity among U.S. families with children under 18 remains alarmingly elevated, rising from 12.5% in 2021 to 17.3% in 2022. Simultaneously, the rates of obesity in children have been consistently increasing. This concerning combination is alarming since both issues have strong associations with lasting health complications, including heart disease and diabetes.
The recent research, led by experts from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, emphasizes the critical role that neighborhood environments during early life play in influencing child health outcomes.
Lead author Izzuddin Aris, who is an assistant professor of population medicine at Harvard Medical School affiliated with the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, stated, “It is vital to understand the impact of experiencing food insecurity during these foundational years on childhood obesity. By examining the underlying mechanisms and pinpointing risk factors that connect neighborhood food access and childhood obesity, we can create targeted preventive measures that might help reduce chronic health issues in the future.”
In this comprehensive national study, researchers analyzed data from over 28,000 children across the U.S., sourced from 55 birth cohorts participating in the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. The focus was on neighborhoods designated as low-income with limited food access, where the nearest supermarket is more than 0.5 miles away in urban areas or more than 10 miles away in rural settings. Living in these communities presents significant hurdles in obtaining and buying healthier food alternatives.
After controlling for individual sociodemographic factors, the study revealed that living in these neighborhoods during pregnancy correlated with more than a 50% increase in obesity and severe obesity risk from childhood through adolescence, as well as higher BMI z-scores at ages 5, 10, and 15. Similar trends were found in children who resided in low-income, low-food-access neighborhoods during early childhood.
This study contributes to the growing evidence linking food insecurity to childhood obesity. Previous research involving ECHO participants by Dr. Aris and his team found that living in the most deprived neighborhoods in early life was linked to an approximately 80% increase in obesity risk at comparable life stages.
Dr. Aris further elaborated, “Our findings underscore the need for targeted investments or strategies to enhance healthy food access early in life. This could involve incentivizing the establishment of new supermarkets in low-income, low-food-access neighborhoods, distributing healthy-option food pantries, and improving access to healthier choices in small retail shops and convenience stores. Such initiatives could significantly help prevent childhood obesity and foster healthier communities.”
