| The purpose of this study was to determine food security status and supplement use of low income, elderly living in the Southeastern US. Data were collected by telephone interviews, and food security status was determined using the USDA Guide to Measuring Household Food Security. Of the 263 interviewed, 65.2% were food secure, 26.2% food insecure without hunger, and 8.6% food insecure with hunger. The food secure rated their health status higher than the food insecure p < 0.05. A significantly greater number of food stamp recipients were food insecure and rated their health lower than nonrecipients. The majority, 62%, of the subjects took supplements and had achieved a higher level of education than nonusers, p < 0.05. However, supplement use was not significantly related to food security status. Although most elderly were food secure, the relationship of food stamp use to food security and health is warranted. |
