Examining the Joint Influence of Food Insecurity and Physical Inactivity on Diabetes Risk Among US Adults

Background Food insecurity and insufficient physical activity (PA) are known diabetes risk factors, but their combined impact and food security’s moderating role remain understudied.Purpose To estimate the combined effect of food security and PA on diabetes diagnosis and test whether household food security moderates the PA and diabetes association.Methods This study analyzed 2022 NHIS data (n = 25,338) using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to examine diabetes prevalence and odds across four joint food security – PA exposure groups, and tested moderation through PA by food-security status interaction terms.Results About 10.7% reported having diabetes. Diabetes was least prevalent among food-secure, physically active adults. Food-secure but insufficiently active adults had lower odds of diabetes than those who were both food-insecure and insufficiently active. However, the interaction between food security and physical activity was not statistically significant.Discussion Joint exposure highlights the compounded burden when insecurity co-occurs with low PA. However, meeting PA guidelines is linked to lower odds of diabetes, while household food security status has no significant interaction effect.Translation to Health Education Practice Pairing food insecurity screening and referrals with PA promotion and counseling can be integrated into clinical and community programs to minimize diabetes risk.