The
odds of depressive symptoms increase as the severity of food insecurity
increases, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition that examined depression, food
security, and SNAP participation status among 3,518 people with incomes at or
below 130% of the federal poverty level. Those who were very low food secure
had 3 times greater odds of depression than those who were food secure. Though
SNAP participants had a higher prevalence of depression, the odds of depression
were lower for food-insecure SNAP participants than for food-insecure
non-participants, which suggests SNAP may have a protective effect on mental
health.
An
article in the same issue of the Journal revealed
that food insecurity is associated with poor sleep outcomes in adults. Very low
food security was associated with sleeping half an hour less among women. The
study authors found both men and women in households with very low food
security were twice as likely to report sleep complaints to a health care
professional, compared to food secure households.
Source:
Food Research Action Center, 4/29/15, Food
Insecurity & Mental Health
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