Childhood obesity and food insecurity: scoping review - 2020 to 2023

This study conducted a scoping review to examine the relationship between food insecurity and childhood obesity, analyzing 47 articles with empirical data published between 2020 and 2023. The studies were categorized by income level of the countries of origin and included cross-sectional surveys, cohorts, and ecological approaches. Most of the research focused on low- and middle-income countries, where food insecurity is more prevalent, but articles from high-income countries were also analyzed. The principal factors evaluated were the household's socioeconomic status, the children's age group and gender, and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact. The results point to a significant association between food insecurity and childhood obesity, especially in low-income households and in regions with insufficient policies on both issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated inequalities, reducing access to healthy foods and increasing childhood obesity rates. Thus, the two problems are interconnected and multifactorial and require interventions tailored to local contexts. An integrated and contextualized approach is essential to promote child health.