Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 41, Issue 6 , Pages 414-419, November 2009

Diet Quality is Low among Female Food Pantry Clients in Eastern Alabama

  • Patricia Duffy, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Patricia Duffy, PhD, Dept of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, 202 Comer Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849; Phone: (334) 844-5629; Fax: (334) 844-5639
    • ,
  • Claire Zizza, RD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
    • ,
  • Jocelynn Jacoby, RD, BS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
    • ,
  • Francis A. Tayie, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Human Environmental Studies, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI

Abstract 

Objective

Examine diet quality, food security, and obesity among female food pantry clients.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

A food pantry in Lee County, Alabama.

Participants

Fifty-five female food pantry clients between 19 and 50 years of age.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Diet quality using United States (US) Department of Agriculture Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005), adult obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2), household food security (US Department of Agriculture Module).

Analysis

Analysis of variance and multivariate models.

Results

Diet quality of the women was generally poor, with a mean HEI of a 43 on a 100 point scale. Having low education level (less than a high school degree) and being a smoker were related to lower overall diet quality. Sixty-seven percent of the clients were obese while 65% percent were food insecure.

Conclusions and Implications

Food pantry clients are characterized by high levels of food insecurity, obesity and poor diet quality. Smoking was associated with food insecurity and low diet quality. Increased outreach efforts to improve nutrition education and to help food pantry clients stop smoking could be beneficial.

Key Words: food pantry, diet quality, obesity, food insecurity, smoking

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 This study was funded by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Human Sciences, Auburn University.

PII: S1499-4046(08)00825-7

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2008.09.002

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 41, Issue 6 , Pages 414-419, November 2009

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