HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY STATUS AND FOOD CONSUMPTION AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NORTHWEST OF IRAN

Background and Aim: Food insecurity and hunger can have social and psychological consequences as well as physical outcomes. Therefore, food security monitoring and investigation factors associated with food insecurity seems necessary in every society. The aim of this study was to determine food security status and food consumption among high school students in northwest of Iran. Methods: This descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 480 students (277 boys and 203 girls; aged 14-17 years) along with their mothers from high schools in the spring 2016 in Bostan-Abad, East Azerbaijan, Iran. During random sampling, 18-items food security questionnaires and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) were completed through face to face interviews. Results: Food insecurity (severe, moderate and mild) characterized 7.9, 14.6, and 25.8% of households, respectively. Students who belonged to food-insecure households had higher intakes of bread and potato whereas they less frequently consumed rice, beans, red meat, poultry, fish, egg, milk, yogurt, root vegetables, salad and leafy vegetables, apple, orange, kiwi, watermelon and peach. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of food insecurity in the studied households is high. Students who belonged to food-secure households more frequently consumed healthy foods, whereas those living in food-insecure households more frequently consumed cheap foods containing high energy per kilogram. The present study suggests that intervention programs be designed and implemented.

کلیدواژه ها:

Food insecurity ، High-school students ، Food consumption ، Iran