About this Research Topic
Changes in economic and political status, the built environment and lifestyles have established new paradigms in the global food system, impacting food access, practices and choices. These changes can be one of the main causes of several pandemics, such as malnutrition, obesity, and food insecurity, in many low- and middle-income countries where social inequalities are fundamentally territorial inequalities. Space is a dynamic factor in the exclusion/inclusion process as it expresses the distribution of goods and services aimed at the quality of human life. In this context, there must be an approach that goes beyond individual issues. The social, structural, and commercial determinants of healthy eating improve the health of individuals, groups, and communities.
Food insecurity and malnutrition independently represent complex conditions that threaten the livelihoods of populations in almost all countries, making them the leading causes of poor health globally. In low- and middle-income countries, the number of people in these conditions has become an important social issue. Worldwide, food insecurity affects more than a quarter (26.4%) of the population, and obesity has almost tripled in just over 4 decades. These phenomena coexist and interact and are promoted by an unhealthy food system, with the high availability of ultra-processed foods and the low supply of fresh, unprocessed foods.
The current agro-industrial food system influences people's choices to increase the demand for foods and drinks that are highly energetic but low in nutrients. Furthermore, they perpetuate poverty and inequalities, violating the human right to adequate and nutritious food. In this sense, studies that consider local contextual characteristics are necessary to allow us to understand peculiarities that may not be observed in global analysis units. We must consider adopting public policies based on the local social, commercial, territorial, and structural determinants of healthy eating.
As part of the journal's mission to address the main aspects related to reflections and discussions on food insecurity, malnutrition and the food environment in low- and middle-income countries, Frontiers in Public Health has organized this Research Topic led by a specialized team of experts. The Topic Editors encourage manuscripts in this area of research, to give the reader an overview of the latest findings and discoveries, analysis of previously published data, new opinions and perspectives, methods and protocols. For this reason, all types of articles accepted by Frontiers in Public Health are encouraged.
Subtopics for this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Assessment of food insecurity in different populations;
• Unhealthy food environment that promotes malnutrition and/or food insecurity;
• Assessment of the food environment in different dimensions;
• Strengthening food systems and environments that protect public health in low- and middle-income countries;
• Nutritional status and the relationship between food insecurity and the food environment;
• Food choices and association with the food environment;
• Policy interventions and measures around this topic;
• Spatial analyses regarding the distribution of goods and services, particularly in LMICs.
Food insecurity and malnutrition independently represent complex conditions that threaten the livelihoods of populations in almost all countries, making them the leading causes of poor health globally. In low- and middle-income countries, the number of people in these conditions has become an important social issue. Worldwide, food insecurity affects more than a quarter (26.4%) of the population, and obesity has almost tripled in just over 4 decades. These phenomena coexist and interact and are promoted by an unhealthy food system, with the high availability of ultra-processed foods and the low supply of fresh, unprocessed foods.
The current agro-industrial food system influences people's choices to increase the demand for foods and drinks that are highly energetic but low in nutrients. Furthermore, they perpetuate poverty and inequalities, violating the human right to adequate and nutritious food. In this sense, studies that consider local contextual characteristics are necessary to allow us to understand peculiarities that may not be observed in global analysis units. We must consider adopting public policies based on the local social, commercial, territorial, and structural determinants of healthy eating.
As part of the journal's mission to address the main aspects related to reflections and discussions on food insecurity, malnutrition and the food environment in low- and middle-income countries, Frontiers in Public Health has organized this Research Topic led by a specialized team of experts. The Topic Editors encourage manuscripts in this area of research, to give the reader an overview of the latest findings and discoveries, analysis of previously published data, new opinions and perspectives, methods and protocols. For this reason, all types of articles accepted by Frontiers in Public Health are encouraged.
Subtopics for this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Assessment of food insecurity in different populations;
• Unhealthy food environment that promotes malnutrition and/or food insecurity;
• Assessment of the food environment in different dimensions;
• Strengthening food systems and environments that protect public health in low- and middle-income countries;
• Nutritional status and the relationship between food insecurity and the food environment;
• Food choices and association with the food environment;
• Policy interventions and measures around this topic;
• Spatial analyses regarding the distribution of goods and services, particularly in LMICs.
Keywords: Food system; Food environment; Food insecurity; Malnutrition; Healthy eating; Social Inequity
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
