Food Insecurity Prevalence and Related Health Outcomes Among Asian Americans: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background

Food insecurity (FI) is a risk factor for many negative health outcomes. While 12.8% of United States (U.S.) residents experience FI, less is known about the prevalence rate and related experiences among Asian Americans (AA) and AA ethnicities.

Objective

This scoping review examines the evidence on FI and health outcomes among AA and disaggregated AA ethnicities.

Study Design, Settings, Participants

The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed, original research studies that examined FI prevalence and health outcomes for aggregated and disaggregated AA groups; published in English between 1975-November 2023; and conducted in the U.S. All age groups and research designs were included. Search terms focused on FI, health outcomes, and AA. Four databases (Pubmed, EBSCOhost, Wiley, ScienceDirect) and the first ten pages of Google Scholar were scanned.

Measurable Outcome/Analysis

Descriptive information from the research articles, FI prevalence rate, and health outcomes among AA, were extracted. When available, disaggregated AA ethnicity data were included.

Results

Of the included articles (n=12), most (n=8) utilized cross-sectional research designs. Most studies (n= 9) examined AA as an aggregated racial group and FI rates ranged between 2.3%-31.0%. Of the reported health outcomes, significant associations between FI and low whole fruit intake, high body mass index (BMI), and poor diet, sleep, and physical activity among AA adults were observed. Of the studies that examined differences between AA ethnicities (n=3), FI prevalence varied inconsistently (Southeast Asians=24.6-63.3%; South Asians=3.14-38.2%; East Asians=16.45-71.7%). Within this group, FI was significantly associated only with the diagnosis of depression.

Conclusions

FI was associated with diet outcomes and BMI, but not diet-related chronic disease prevalence within AA. Due to the large fluctuation of FI prevalence within individual AA ethnicities, more research is warranted to examine the extent to which FI and other risk factors contribute to diet-related health outcomes.

Funding

San Jose State University Circle of Friends Research Assistance Award