Association between food insecurity and chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association of food insecurity (FI) with chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Brazilian context. Methods: The review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The searches were conducted in LILACS and PubMed databases (September/2022). Observational studies carried out in the Brazilian population published since 2003 were included, in which: (1) the association of FI with NCDs was analyzed; and (2) the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale was used. Studies on pregnant women and those that associated FI with cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases were excluded. The studies were subjected to methodological quality assessment. Results: A total of 27 cross-sectional studies were included; nine used secondary data from national surveys, and the others used primary data. An association between FI and overweight and obesity in different age groups was verified in the studies. Conclusion: The included articles did not produce evidence on other NCDs of interest to health in Brazil such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, they corroborate the already-known relationship between obesity and FI. Studies on the topic, with a longitudinal design, should be encouraged.