Food systems, obesity, and gender in Latin America

Abstract

With more than half the population affected by overweight (58%) and almost a quarter (23%) suffering from obesity, Latin America is experiencing an unprecedented health crisis that impacts most of the countries in the region (FAO 2017). The problem is more prevalent among women than men. Overall, the region faces a triple burden of malnutrition, because in addition to overweight and obesity, there are also problems of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency. The topic is very complex, multisectoral, and must be studied from different viewpoints. There is evidence showing that certain groups are more affected, which is the case with women. The impact on other groups and ages varies by country, geographical regions, the urban/rural divide, income and education levels, and ethnic origin. This paper explores some of the existing linkages connecting the food system, trends in overweight and obesity, and the gender divide in Latin America from the point of view of women, who, as noted, seem to be disproportionally affected by this health condition compared to their male counterparts. This literature review explores different dimensions of women's roles and conditions within food systems that influence their health and nutrition in Latin America, including (a) women as farmers and other affected groups such as indigenous peoples; (b) women as traders of agricultural products; (c) women's role and participation in feeding schemes; (d) women as workers in the agrifood industry; (e) women as informal street food vendors; and (f) considerations regarding the time invested in food preparation at the household level and women's participation in this task. Other themes to take into account are the effects of rural poverty and gender inequality on these populations across Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a matter of urgency to understand the underlying causes why some populations are more affected by overweight and obesity than others, as this will allow governments to design policies that tackle those problems at their root. The goal of this review is to provide information that can help to develop efficient and equitable interventions and targeted policies to reduce the current trends of overweight and obesity in Latin America, with a focus on women.

Enhancing science–policy interfaces for food systems transformation

“…Progress towards more sustainable, equitable and fair food systems is hampered by several factors [5][6][7] . These include gender inequality, a lack of representation from diverse value systems and Indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge, gaps in knowledge on the interactions among food system activities, an under-appreciation of sustainability issues, and disjointed policies 8 .…”

“…Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University Di Pisa, Pisa, Italy. 6 16 School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. 17 Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) and Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.…”