Food insecurity in childhood is a driving factor in a surge in fatty liver disease for Latino children, according to new research out of UCSF.
The study surveyed new Latino mothers in San Francisco and found that nearly 30% of 4-year-old children suffered from food insecurity in their households, with 27% developing fatty liver disease during their childhoods.Researchers looked at two groups of expectant mothers in The City, one group from 2006-07 and the other from 2011-13. They tracked the 136 children from birth to mid-childhood during annual visits up until the children turned 12.
Between 5% to 10% of children in the United States have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to UCSF. Symptoms can include pain, fatigue and jaundice, and it can cause more serious conditions and ailments, including cirrhosis and cancer. Food insecurity has increased for all populations in recent years, but the Latino population stands apart. In 2022, 13.2% of Latino children came from food-insecure households — a 36% increase from the year before — compared to 16% of Black children.