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Ariel-Ann Lyons, MPH, Jungwee Park, PhD and Connie H. Nelson, PhD

At the time of this study, Ariel-Ann Lyons was a student in the Master of Public Health Program, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Jungwee Park is with the Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, and the Master of Public Health Program, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay. Connie H. Nelson is with the School of Social Work and the Master of Public Health Program, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Connie H. Nelson, PhD, School of Social Work, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, P7B 5E1, Ontario (e-mail: cnelson{at}lakeheadu.ca).

Objectives. We used self-reported and measured height and weight data to examine the relationship between food insecurity and obesity.

Methods. We defined food insecurity according to 3 different models. We used self-reported and measured height and weight from 2 versions of the Canadian Community Health Survey to calculate obesity rates.

Results. When self-reported height and weight data were used in calculating obesity prevalence rates, rates were significantly higher among food-insecure respondents than among food-secure respondents; by contrast, when measured height and weight data were used, there were no significant differences. Female respondents classified as food insecure and experiencing mild hunger were at greater risk of obesity than were food-secure female respondents when measured height and weight were used.

Conclusions. Associations between obesity and food insecurity are more pronounced when self-reported data on height and weight are used than when measured height and weight data are used. Caution should be used when using self-reported data to examine the relationship between food insecurity and obesity.