Food Insecurity Trajectories in the US During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to characterize population-level trajectories in the probability of food insecurity in the US during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine so-ciodemographic correlates associated with identified trajectories.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Understanding America Study survey, a nationally representative panel (N = 7,944) that assessed food in-security every 2 weeks from April 1, 2020, through March 16, 2021. We used latent class growth analysis to determine patterns (or classes) of pandemic-related food insecurity during a 1-year period.ResultsWe found 10 classes of trajectories of food insecurity, including 1 class of consistent food security (64.7%), 1 class of consistent food insecurity (3.4%), 5 classes of decreasing food insecurity (15.8%), 2 classes of increasing food insecurity (4.6%), and 1 class of stable but elevated food insecurity (11.6%). Relative to the class that remained food secure, other classes were younger, had a greater proportion of women, and tended to identify with a racial or ethnic minority group.ConclusionWe found heterogeneous longitudinal patterns in the development, resolution, or persistence of food insecurity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experiences of food insecurity were highly variable across the US population, with one-third experien-cing some form of food insecurity risk. Findings have implica-tions for identifying population groups who are at increased risk of food insecurity and related health disparities beyond the first year of the pandemic.