Tobacco use increases risk of food insecurity: An analysis of continuous NHANES data from 1999 to 2014

Publication date: Available online 29 June 2019Source: Preventive MedicineAuthor(s): Margaret Mayer, Ralitza Gueorguieva, Xiaomei Ma, Marney A. WhiteAbstractTobacco use is a major health disparities issue in the United States; it is much more common in less-educated and lower-income groups. These groups also experience a higher prevalence of food insecurity. Previous studies analyzing the association between tobacco use and food insecurity have focused on only cigarettes. We assessed the relationship between food insecurity and use of cigarettes, alternative tobacco products (cigars, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco), any tobacco product, and multiple tobacco products. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999 to 2014, we built multinomial logistic regression models predicting degree of food security (i.e., food security, low food security, very low food security) for use of different tobacco product types, any product, and multiple products. After adjustment, use of any product, relative to no use, was significantly associated with increased odds of both food insecurity outcomes: low (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–1.4) and very low (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.6–2.2) food security. In a separate model, single product use, relative to no use, was significantly associated with increased odds of low (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.3–1.7) and very low (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.9–2.6) food security. For m...
Source: Preventive Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research