Intervening in Food Insecurity to Reduce and Mitigate (InFoRM) Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity prevalence is rising in the U.S. and is known to track into adulthood, increasing the risks of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Households of children with obesity also face unmet social needs, such as food insecurity. Food insecurity is associated with poorer dietary quality and higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes in adults; however, data are inconsistent and less known regarding longitudinal health effects in children. Because food insecurity and childhood obesity tend to co-occur in Black, Hispanic, and lower-income households, there is an urgent need to examine and intervene in the social determinants associated with rising childhood obesity prevalence.