Dose response relationship between food insecurity and quality of life in United States adults: 2016–2017

Background Food insecurity is associated with worse general health rating, but little research exists investigating whether there is a dose response relationship across levels of food security and mental and physical health domains at the population level. Methods Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2016–2017) with US adults aged 18 years and older was used. The physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) of Quality of Life, served as the outcome measures. Four categories of food insecurity (high, marginal, low, very low food security) served as the primary independent variable. Linear regression was used to run unadjusted followed by adjusted models. Separate models were run for PCS and MCS. Results In a sample of US adults, 16.1% reported some degree of food insecurity. For PCS, marginal (β = − 2.54 ( p < 0.001), low (β = − 3.41, ( p < 0.001), and very low (β = − 5.62, ( p < 0.001) food security was associated with worse PCS scores, compared to adults with high food security. For MCS, marginal (β = − 3.90 ( p < 0.001), low (β = − 4.79, ( p < 0.001), and very low (β = − 9.72, ( p < 0.001) food security was associated with worse MCS scores, compared to adults with high food security. Conclusion Increasing levels of food insecurity were associated with decreased physical and mental health quality of life scores. This relationship was not explained by demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, insurance, or comorbidity burden. This study suggests work is needed to mitigate the impact of social risk, such as food insecurity, on quality of life in adults, and understand pathways and mechanisms for this relationship.