Six-dimensional food security index across states in India: Does it associate with malnutrition among older adults?

This study used six dimensions of food security (availability, access, utilization, stability, agency and sustainability) to calculate a state-level food security index for states in India. The index was bifurcated into six components, which were further sub-divided into a total of 15 sub-indices. Employing data from several sources, this study examined food security at the state and household level to see if it has an impact on nutrition status among older adults in India. Although the general status of food security in states might be known, our study provides a nuanced and comprehensive assessment by utilizing all six dimensions of food security. This multi-dimensional approach allows for a more detailed understanding of the factors contributing to food security. Our findings suggest that the Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were the most food secure states. These states also performed well across several sub-indices of food security, the most important being per capita food grain availability, per hectare yield of grains, cropping intensity and storage capacity. Jharkhand, Odisha and Chattisgarh were the least food secure states, with their poor performance being attributable mostly to high rates of inflation and low per capita net state domestic product. Insights from this study are helpful for policymakers to identify targeted interventions. Nevertheless, results from our study explained only a small proportion of variation in both underweight and overweight among older adults at the state and household levels, meaning that an index of food security informs little about nutritional security among older adults in states in India. Instead, the maximum variation in both overweight and underweight was explained by individual level factors, such as age, gender and marital status. Therefore, addressing nutritional inadequacies in India requires interventions not only in the food system, but also in other sectors such as health, sanitation, education and the economy.