Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Associations of socioeconomic factors with inadequate dietary intake in food aid users in France (The ABENA study 2004–2005)

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 374–382 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 07 April 2010

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Few studies in Europe have examined the relationship of sociodemographic and economic factors with diet in deprived populations. We analysed the association between socioeconomic characteristics and consumption of different food groups in food aid users.

Subjects/Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among food aid users in four urban French zones (n=1664). Associations of sociodemographic and economic factors and food aid use with frequency of consumption of the main food groups were tested using multivariate logistic regression models accounting for sampling weights.

Results:

Both migrant status and consumption of fewer than three daily meals were associated with risk of low frequency of starchy food consumption (<3 times per day). Migrant status was also associated with low frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables (<3.5 times per day) and dairy products (<2 times per day). Subjects with severe food insufficiency were more likely to be low consumers of fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood and eggs (<1 time per day), and dairy products. A low monthly food budget, temporary housing in a shelter and no source of household income were all associated with risk of low frequency of seafood consumption (<2 times per week). Finally, duration of food aid use, type of food aid distribution and perception of poor health status were associated with low consumption of meat, seafood and eggs.

Conclusions:

Economic level and other social characteristics were associated with an unhealthy diet within this deprived French population.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alaimo K, Briefel RR, Frongillo EA, Olson CM (1998). Food insufficiency exists in the United States: results from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Am J Public Health 88, 419–426.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bellin-Lestienne C, Deschamps V, Noukpoapé A, Darmon N, Hercberg S, Castetbon K (2006). Food consumption and position of food aid among participants of the ABENA study, 2004–2005. Bull Epidemiol Hebd 11–12, 79–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhargava A (2004). Socio-economic and behavioural factors are predictors of food use in the National Food Stamp Program Survey. Br J Nutr 92, 497–506.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castetbon K, Vernay M, Malon A, Salanave B, Deschamps V, Roudier C et al. (2009). Dietary intake, physical activity and nutritional status in adults: the French nutrition and health survey (ENNS, 2006–2007). Br J Nutr 102, 733–743.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charles MA, Eschwege E, Basdevant A (2008). Monitoring the obesity epidemic in France: The Obepi Surveys 1997–2006. Obesity 16, 2182–2186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cristofar SP, Basiotis PP (1992). Dietary intakes and selected characteristics of women ages 19–50 years and their children ages 1–5 years by reported perception of food sufficiency. J Nutr Educ 24, 53–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darmon N, Andrieu E, Bellin-Lestienne C, Dauphin AG, Castetbon K (2008). The E3A survey: nutritional quality of food aid programs in France and how they work. Cah Nutr Diet 43, 243–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darmon N, Drewnowski A (2008). Does social class predict diet quality? Am J Clin Nutr 87, 1107–1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darmon N, Khlat M (2001). An overview of the health status of migrants in France, in relation to their dietary practices. Public Health Nutr 4, 163–172.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon LB, Winkleby MA, Radimer KL (2001). Dietary intakes and serum nutrients differ between adults from food-insufficient and food-sufficient families: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994. J Nutr 131, 1232–1246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hercberg S, Chat-Yung S, Chauliac M (2008). The French National Nutrition and Health Program: 2001–2006–2010. Int J Public Health 53, 68–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irala-Estevez JD, Groth M, Johansson L, Oltersdorf U, Prattala R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA (2000). A systematic review of socio-economic differences in food habits in Europe: consumption of fruit and vegetables. Eur J Clin Nutr 54, 706–714.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kesse-Guyot E, Bertrais S, Peneau S, Estaquio C, Dauchet L, Vergnaud AC et al. (2008). Dietary patterns and their sociodemographic and behavioural correlates in French middle-aged adults from the SU.VI.MAX cohort. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 521–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lallukka T, Laaksonen M, Rahkonen O, Roos E, Lahelma E (2007). Multiple socio-economic circumstances and healthy food habits. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 701–710.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maillot M, Darmon N, Darmon M, Lafay L, Drewnowski A (2007). Nutrient-dense food groups have high energy costs: an econometric approach to nutrient profiling. J Nutr 137, 1815–1820.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mejean C, Traissac P, Eymard-Duvernay S, Delpeuch F, Maire B (2008). Influence of acculturation among Tunisian migrants in France and their past/present exposure to the home country on diet and physical activity. Public Health Nutr 12, 832–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mejean C, Traissac P, Eymard-Duvernay S, El Ati J, Delpeuch F, Maire B (2007). Diet quality of North African migrants in France partly explains their lower prevalence of diet-related chronic conditions relative to their native French peers. J Nutr 137, 2106–2113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson M, Erens B, Bates B, Church S, Boshier T . Low Income Diet Nutrition Survey. Summary of Key Findings. Food Standards Agency: London, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuhouser ML, Thompson B, Coronado GD, Solomon CC (2004). Higher fat intake and lower fruit and vegetables intakes are associated with greater acculturation among Mexicans living in Washington State. J Am Diet Assoc 104, 51–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldewage-Theron WH, Dicks EG, Napier CE (2006). Poverty, household food insecurity and nutrition: coping strategies in an informal settlement in the Vaal Triangle, South Africa. Public Health 120, 795–804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrin AE, Simon C, Hedelin G, Arveiler D, Schaffer P, Schlienger JL (2002). Ten-year trends of dietary intake in a middle-aged French population: relationship with educational level. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 393–401.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radimer KL, Radimer KL (2002). Measurement of household food security in the USA and other industrialised countries. Public Health Nutr 5, 859–864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose D (1999). Economic determinants and dietary consequences of food insecurity in the United States. J Nutr 129, 517S–520S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez-Villegas A, Delgado-Rodriguez M, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Irala-Estevez J (2003). Gender, age, socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with major dietary patterns in the Spanish Project SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra). Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 285–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharkey JR (2008). Diet and health outcomes in vulnerable populations. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1136, 210–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siefert K, Heflin CM, Corcoran ME, Williams DR (2004). Food insufficiency and physical and mental health in a longitudinal survey of welfare recipients. J Health Soc Behav 45, 171–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarasuk VS (2001). Household food insecurity with hunger is associated with women's food intakes, health and household circumstances. J Nutr 131, 2670–2676.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Townsend MS, Peerson J, Love B, Achterberg C, Murphy SP (2001). Food insecurity is positively related to overweight in women. J Nutr 131, 1738–1745.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vozoris NT, Tarasuk VS (2003). Household food insufficiency is associated with poorer health. J Nutr 133, 120–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willett WC . Nutritional Epidemiology, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 1998.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank French associations involved in food aid for their kind cooperation. We are grateful to the Social Security Health Examination Centres and their laboratories in Bobigny, Paris, Dijon and Marseille, the ‘Département de Biologie intégrée’ at Grenoble University Hospital and the ‘Unité Neuromédiateurs et Vitamines’ at Dijon University Hospital for their contribution to data collection. This study was supported by the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS), France.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR U557 INSERM/U1125 INRA/CNAM/Université Paris 13, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine -IdF, Bobigny, F-93017, France

    C Méjean & H Serge

  2. Unité de Surveillance et d'Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle, Institut de Veille Sanitaire InVS/Université Paris 13, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine IdF, Bobigny, F-93017, France

    V Deschamps, C Bellin-Lestienne, A Oleko, H Serge & C Katia

  3. UMR INRA 1260/INSERM 476, Universités Aix-Marseille I & II, Marseille, F-13385, France

    N Darmon

Authors
  1. C Méjean
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V Deschamps
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C Bellin-Lestienne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A Oleko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N Darmon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. H Serge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. C Katia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Méjean.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Méjean, C., Deschamps, V., Bellin-Lestienne, C. et al. Associations of socioeconomic factors with inadequate dietary intake in food aid users in France (The ABENA study 2004–2005). Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 374–382 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.153

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.153

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links