Author ORCID Identifier

Marissa A. Beldon: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9680-0226

Shondra L. Clay: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8607-9463

M. Courtney Hughes: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8699-5701

Kathryn Mazurek: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8350-1753

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Abstract

Objective

To explore the relationship between low birthweight (LBW) and food insecurity across US counties and determine whether this relationship differs between Black and White women.

Methods

LBW data was derived from the 2013–2019 National Center for Health Statistics and National Vital Statistics System Birth Files. Food insecurity data was derived from Feeding America’s 2013–2019 Map the Meal Gap project. Analyses included descriptive statistics and regression models.

Results

Data were available for 3037 US counties. Food insecurity significantly predicted county-level LBW (t(3035) = 44.48, P <  .001) and explained 39.46% of the variance in LBW (F(13,035) = 1978.03, P <  .001, R = .63). Food insecurity predicted LBW for both Black (t(1418) = 17.39, P <  .001) and White women (t(1918) = 18.26, P <  .001) and had a slightly larger effect size for Black women with fitted line plots also supporting a stronger relationship for Black women.

Conclusions

Food insecurity predicts LBW in US counties, and the relationship may be stronger for Black women. Increasing access to healthy food should be considered when planning county-level efforts for improving LBW.

First Page

1

Last Page

10

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02325-9

Publication Date

2025

Original Citation

Beldon, M. A., Clay, S. L., Hughes, M. C., & Mazurek, K. (2025). The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Low Birthweight Across US Counties and Related Racial Disparities. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 1-10.

Department

School of Health Studies| School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions

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Available for download on Thursday, February 26, 2026

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