Table 1.
Population Characteristics by Food Insecurity Status, NHANES 2003–2008
(U.S. adults age >=20 years with annual household income <400% of the federal poverty guideline)
| Characteristic | All | No Food Insecurity | Marginal Food Insecurity | High Food Insecurity | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total N (%) | 9126 | (74%) | (11%) | (15%) | -- |
| Age in years: mean (SE) | 46.6 (0.4) | 48.4 (0.5) | 41.6 (0.7) | 41.6 (0.5) | <0.001 |
| Male, % | 47 | 47 | 46 | 47 | 0.59 |
| Race/ethnicity, % | <0.001 | ||||
| Mexican American | 11 | 8 | 21 | 17 | |
| Non-Hispanic White | 65 | 71 | 46 | 49 | |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 13 | 11 | 19 | 18 | |
| * Poverty income ratio: mean (SE) | 2.0 (0.03) | 2.2 (0.03) | 1.6 (0.05) | 1.3 (0.04) | <0.001 |
| Insured, % | 74 | 79 | 61 | 59 | <0.001 |
| Education>= 12th grade, % | 74 | 78 | 65 | 60 | <0.001 |
| Current Tobacco use, % | 28 | 24 | 36 | 41 | <0.001 |
| Comorbid Conditions, % | |||||
| Hypertension | 39 | 41 | 34 | 36 | 0.006 |
| Diabetes | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 0.292 |
| Obesity | 35 | 33 | 38 | 38 | 0.009 |
Abbreviations: SE, standard error.
*
Poverty income ratio is a ratio of household income to household poverty level (higher values indicate greater income).