Baby Secure Boston Formative Research Plan Background

The public health paradox of simultaneous hunger and obesity exists in the United States and in much of the world. Roughly 12.4 million children in the U.S. in 2008 lived in households that were food insecure, or were unable to purchase nutritionally adequate, safe and acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (1,2). Among these, 18.9 % were 0-6 years old. In addition, black and Hispanic households experience higher rates of food insecurity compared to the rest of the nation (1). Food insecurity is particularly problematic for families with children in their earliest stages of life, aged 0-3. These children are more likely to be underweight or malnourished, hospitalized, have iron deficiency anemia, and experience poor cognitive development (3,4). While food insecurity persists, obesity rates among children of all ages have been growing at an alarming rate. Between 1980 and 2006, obesity in children aged 2-5 increased from 5 % to 12.4 % and from 5 % to 17.6 % in children aged 12-19 (5).1 Compared to children of a healthy weight, obese children are at increased risk for depression, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome,2 low self-esteem and poor participation in school activities (5,6,7). The relationship between these two condition