Exploration of the Temporal and Dynamic Nature of Food Insecurity in Families with Young Children

About the project

About the Project Background Cross cultural data has demonstrated the associations between poverty, food insecurity, and negative impacts on multiple domains of child health (Gross-Manos et al 2025). Families experiencing poverty also experience food insecurity, a lack of regular access to adequate, safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active, healthy life. The severity of food insecurity exists along a continuum and may progress from anxiety about obtaining food, to reduced quality and variety of food for adults, and in extreme cases, reduced quantity of food for children. The UK has the highest rate of food insecurity in Europe, affecting 18% of households with children. However, little is known about the temporal nature of food insecurity and the implication for parent feeding and child eating behaviour. Specifically, changes in household food insecurity can change with benefit cycles (e.g., benefits may run out towards the end of the month) or access to transportation (e.g., when a ride is available). Key targets in addressing obesity in early life include parent feeding practices and child eating behaviour in the early years, which are important for healthy growth throughout childhood. Solutions that are co-developed with clinical and community partners who serve these families are urgently needed. Objectives The PhD student will: Model trajectories of food insecurity in the Appetite cohort and determine risk and protective factors that predict trajectories (e.g., employment, Index of Multiple Deprivation, housing status, coping strategies, etc.) Determine the dynamic and temporal nature of food insecurity, child eating behaviour, and parent feeding practices over the course of one month Conduct a qualitative exploration to understand the context around food insecurity in families with young children as well as identify and co-produce solutions and resources with food pantry staff and health visitors. Outcomes The PhD project will provide new insights into risk and protective factors of food insecurity over time, how food insecurity, child eating behaviour, and parent feeding changes dynamically and how clinical and community partners can best support them. Focus groups and interviews will highlight practical, evidence-informed strategies for health visitors, pantry staff, and other early years healthcare professionals, providing new insights and interventions that are feasible in families experiencing food insecurity. Grounding recommendations in the lived experiences of parents and healthcare professionals and working in close partnership with community groups, this work has the potential to inform clinical practice, public health programming, and policy discussions in the UK and Australia about on tackling inequalities in early life nutrition and growth. The findings will support the development of family-centred guidance and resources to promote responsive feeding and healthy child development, generating actionable evidence to reduce health inequalities and give infants the best start in life.

Research areas