Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review
Obesity is considered a 21st-century epidemic and it is a metabolic risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, some types of cancer, among others. Thus, its prevention and treatment are important public health concern...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1012734/full |
| _version_ | 1828373691989229568 |
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| author | Diana Carvajal-Aldaz Gabriela Cucalon Carlos Ordonez |
| author_facet | Diana Carvajal-Aldaz Gabriela Cucalon Carlos Ordonez |
| author_sort | Diana Carvajal-Aldaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Obesity is considered a 21st-century epidemic and it is a metabolic risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, some types of cancer, among others. Thus, its prevention and treatment are important public health concerns. Obesity within the context of food insecurity adds an additional layer of complexity to the current obesity epidemic. Efficient policies and interventions ought to take into consideration the effects of food insecurity on the risks of developing obesity among food insecure households. This review aims to analyze the recent available evidence around the obesity – food insecurity paradox. Most of the literature has consistently shown that there is a significant association between food insecurity and obesity, specifically in women of high-income countries. However, mechanisms explaining the paradox are still lacking. Even though researchers have tried to analyze the issue using different individual and societal variables, these studies have failed to explain the mediatory mechanisms of the food insecurity–obesity relationship since the proposed mechanisms usually lack strength or are purely theoretical. The research focus should shift from cross-sectional models to other research designs that allow the exploration of pathways and mechanisms underlying the food insecurity and obesity relationship, such as longitudinal studies, which will hopefully lead to consecutive research testing the effectiveness of different approaches and scale up such interventions into diverse contexts among those affected by obesity and the different degrees of food insecurity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:22:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6c5130ae4a94d359ecf92bda70b1314 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:22:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6c5130ae4a94d359ecf92bda70b13142022-12-22T02:06:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2022-09-01910.3389/fnut.2022.10127341012734Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A reviewDiana Carvajal-AldazGabriela CucalonCarlos OrdonezObesity is considered a 21st-century epidemic and it is a metabolic risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, some types of cancer, among others. Thus, its prevention and treatment are important public health concerns. Obesity within the context of food insecurity adds an additional layer of complexity to the current obesity epidemic. Efficient policies and interventions ought to take into consideration the effects of food insecurity on the risks of developing obesity among food insecure households. This review aims to analyze the recent available evidence around the obesity – food insecurity paradox. Most of the literature has consistently shown that there is a significant association between food insecurity and obesity, specifically in women of high-income countries. However, mechanisms explaining the paradox are still lacking. Even though researchers have tried to analyze the issue using different individual and societal variables, these studies have failed to explain the mediatory mechanisms of the food insecurity–obesity relationship since the proposed mechanisms usually lack strength or are purely theoretical. The research focus should shift from cross-sectional models to other research designs that allow the exploration of pathways and mechanisms underlying the food insecurity and obesity relationship, such as longitudinal studies, which will hopefully lead to consecutive research testing the effectiveness of different approaches and scale up such interventions into diverse contexts among those affected by obesity and the different degrees of food insecurity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1012734/fullobesityfood insecurityparadoxfood accessoverweight |
| spellingShingle | Diana Carvajal-Aldaz Gabriela Cucalon Carlos Ordonez Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review Frontiers in Nutrition obesity food insecurity paradox food access overweight |
| title | Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review |
| title_full | Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review |
| title_fullStr | Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review |
| title_short | Food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity: A review |
| title_sort | food insecurity as a risk factor for obesity a review |
| topic | obesity food insecurity paradox food access overweight |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.1012734/full |
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