Environmental Factors of Food Insecurity in Adolescents: A Global Scoping Review

Adolescent food insecurity (FI) is a growing global issue with significant health and developmental consequences. Although research has mainly focused on behavioral and interpersonal factors, broader environmental influences-such as organizational, community, societal, and planetary factors-are underexplored. This scoping review aims to map and examine multilevel environmental factors of adolescent FI (ages 10-19 years). Following PRISMA-Scoping Reviews guidelines, we screened 5,149 records and included 40 studies, mostly from high-income countries. This scoping review identifies key factors such as interpersonal (household socioeconomic status, family structure), community (social capital, food environment), and societal factors (food assistance programs, economic disparities, and discrimination). However, planetary-level factors were rarely studied. Findings suggest that adolescent FI is shaped by interwoven environmental factors across multiple levels, and policies must address systemic drivers such as social inequities and climate change. Future research should prioritize adolescent-centered studies and expand investigations in underrepresented regions, particularly in the Global South.