Latino children experiencing food insecurity at age 4 are nearly four times more likely to develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by age 12, according to a new study led by University of California San Francisco researchers. The findings highlight significant racial disparities in childhood health outcomes.
The study, published in Pediatric Obesity, followed two groups of Latina mothers and their children from pregnancy to mid-childhood. Researchers assessed MASLD in 136 children between ages 5 and 12, finding that 29% experienced food insecurity at age 4, and 27% developed MASLD in early to middle childhood.
Dr. Sarah Maxwell, lead study author and pediatric transplant hepatology fellow at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, emphasized the importance of these findings for Latino children, who face high rates of both household food insecurity and fatty liver disease.
The research also revealed stark racial disparities in food insecurity rates. From 2021 to 2022, food insecurity in Latino households with children increased from 9.7% to 13.2%. Black households saw an even higher increase, from 12% to nearly 16%. In contrast, white households experienced much lower rates, rising from 3.4% to 5.5%.
MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is now the leading cause of liver disease among children in the United States, affecting up to 38% of children with obesity.
Given these findings, Dr. Maxwell recommends earlier screening for MASLD than current guidelines suggest, particularly for Latino children. She also stresses the importance of food insecurity screening and connecting at-risk families with healthier food resources in their communities.
See “Food Insecurity in Latino Children May Boost Liver Disease Risk” (March 15, 2024)
