RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD INSECURITY AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IN WOMEN

Food insecurity refers to the inability to afford enough food for an active, healthy life. The metabolic syndrome, otherwise known as syndrome X or the insulin resistance syndrome, is a collection of cardiovascular risk factors including hypertriglyceridemia, lowered HDL-cholesterol, glucose intolerance, abdominal obesity and hypertension. Recent studies indicate widespread prevalence of food insecurity and metabolic syndrome in various regions of Iran. No studies have been conducted so far to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and the metabolic syndrome in Iran. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and metabolic syndrome in women. In this study, 130 women 30 to 60 years old with metabolic syndrome as cases and 130 women without metabolic syndrome as controls referred to clinics affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were selected. The USDA household food security questionnaire was used to assess food insecurity status. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Pane l II (ATP III). The prevalence of food insecurity was 69.2% in cases and 45.4% in controls (P< 0.001). After multiple logistic regression and removal of potential confounders, food insecurity was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR3.2&CI 95%: 1.9-5.6)(P<0.05). Given that food insecurity is an important risk factors for metabolic syndrome, Planners should reduce food insecurity in society, especially women through measures to improve the economic situation and dietary patterns of households.