Children who experience food insecurity are more likely to face serious cardiovascular health challenges as young adults, according to a new study that underscores the long-term impact of early-life deprivation. The research, which followed over 1,000 children from birth into their twenties, found that early childhood food insecurity was linked to higher body mass index (BMI) and worse overall cardiovascular health.
The study revealed that 39% of participants lived in food-insecure households during early childhood, and 44% participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Among those who experienced food insecurity, the majority were from non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic communities—groups already facing disproportionate health burdens.
Researchers found that food insecurity was associated with a 2.2-point lower cardiovascular health score in young adulthood. The strongest link was with BMI, where food-insecure children had significantly higher odds of obesity. However, this association was notably weaker among those whose families received SNAP benefits. For children in food-insecure households that did not participate in SNAP, the cardiovascular health score was nearly five points lower.
“Participation in SNAP during early childhood may mitigate long-term associations of food insecurity with health in young adulthood,” the authors noted. Among SNAP participants, food insecurity was even associated with slightly better diet quality later in life.
These findings highlight the critical role of early intervention. Expanding access to SNAP and similar programs could help reduce health disparities that begin in childhood and persist into adulthood.
See “Early Childhood Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Health in Young Adulthood “(May 14, 2025)