SNAP Participation as a Moderator of Food and Nutrition Security and Combined Cardiometabolic Conditions: A Mixed Regression Approach.

Objectives

To examine the relationships between food security, nutrition security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, and cardiometabolic outcomes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes, among low-income U.S. individuals.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 486 participants (April-June 2021) assessed food and nutrition security and cardiometabolic outcomes. Mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for covariates and included a random effect for state of residence. Moderation analyses evaluated SNAP participation's impact.

Results

Very low food security was associated with higher odds of having at least one cardiometabolic condition, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.04-3.69; p = 0.04). SNAP moderated this relationship (p-interaction = 0.007), with non-participants experiencing significantly higher risk. Non-SNAP participants with very low food security had 3.17 (95% CI = 1.17-8.61) times higher odds of having a cardiometabolic condition. Among SNAP participants, very low food security was not significantly associated with having a cardiometabolic condition (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 0.64-4.13). Higher nutrition security was associated with lower odds of having at least one cardiometabolic condition (AOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41-0.83; p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Nutrition security and SNAP participation mitigate cardiometabolic risks, underscoring their importance in public health interventions.