EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOOD SECURITY AND OTHER DETERMINANTS OF HYPERTENSION USING NHANES 2017-2018 DATA

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between hypertension determinants and food security using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset from 2017-2018. The analysis utilized both descriptive methods and logistic regression. The results showed that households with low food security were more likely to experience hypertension than those with full food security. The study also found that a significant proportion of the population had suboptimal dietary habits, with only a small percentage reporting an excellent diet. Healthy diets and physical activity was found to be significantly associated with a lower likelihood of hypertension. The possibility of developing hypertension was higher for individuals with a lower-quality of diet and no physical activity. The study also revealed that high fast-food consumption and food insecurity were associated with a higher risk of hypertension. The results suggested that food insecurity was a significant public health concern associated with many health conditions. Additionally, the study found that a considerable proportion of households experienced a degree of food insecurity, which could contribute to unhealthy diets and increased hypertension risk. The association between food security and high blood pressure suggests that factors such as income, access to food, and food quality may play a role in developing high blood pressure.