Food Security and Nutritional Outcomes of Preschool-Age Mexican-American Children

Objective To examine the relationship of food insecurity to nutrition of Mexican-American preschoolers. Design Cross-sectional survey of low-income Mexican-American families with children of preschool age (3 to 6 years). Data included food security using the Radimer/ Cornell scale; acculturation; parental education; monthly income; past experience of food insecurity; and child weight, height, and frequency of consuming 57 foods. Weight-for-height z scores (WHZ), height- for-age z (HAZ) scores, and the percentage of overweight (≥85th percentile WHZ) were calculated. Subjects/Setting A convenience sample of Mexican-American families (n=211) was recruited through Head Start, Healthy Start, Migrant Education, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Tulare, Fresno, Monterey, and Kern counties in California. Statistical analyses Analysis of variance, t tests, Spearman's correlations, and Mantel Haenszel χ2. Results Limited education, lack of English proficiency, and low income were negatively correlated with food security (r=−0.31 to −0.44, P