Food insecurity is associated with maladaptive eating behaviors and objectively measured overeating

OBJECTIVE: The association between food insecurity and obesity may be partially explained by overeating in response to unpredictable food availability cycles. The aim of this study was to measure objective food intake in food insecure individuals. METHODS: 82 volunteers (53m; BMI 29±7; 38±12y) were admitted to our inpatient Clinical Research Unit and completed the Food Security Short Form (FSSF), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and Gormally Binge Eating Scale and body composition assessment (DXA). After 5d of weight maintaining diet, participants self-selected food from an ad libitum vending machine paradigm for 3d. Mean daily intake (kcal), macronutrient intake, and percentage of weight maintaining energy needs (%WMEN) were calculated. RESULTS: Based on FSSF cutoffs, food insecure participants (n=46; 56%) had higher body weight (p=.04), FFM (p=.05), disinhibition (p=.008), hunger (p=.02) and binge eating scores (p=.02), but not cognitive restraint (p=.37) compared to food secure individuals. They overate more kcal (p=.001), %WMEN (p=.003), fat (p=.003) and carbohydrates (p=.004) during the vending machine paradigm, continued to increase their hourly rate of kcal (group×time, β=37.7 cumulative kcal/hour, p<.0001) and ate more total kcal across the 72-hours (β=47.09 kcal/hour, p=.003). CONCLUSION: Food insecurity may amplify susceptibility to weight gain via overeating during times of unlimited food access.