While the association between food insecurity and adolescent obesity is well-established, the mechanisms through which these co-occurring public health crises are linked remain inadequately understood. Using the Social Ecological Model as a theoretical framework, this study examines how individual (physical activity), interpersonal (household food security), community (poverty level, residence), and societal (race/ethnicity) factors interact to influence adolescent weight outcomes. Cross-sectional data from 37,425 adolescents aged 12–17 years in the 2022–2023 National Survey of Children’s Health using weighted multinomial logistic regression with interaction terms were used. Adolescents experiencing nutrition insecurity (adequate quantity but poor-quality food) had 41% higher odds of obesity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.20–1.65), while those with food insecurity (insufficient quantity) had 48% higher odds (aOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.08–2.02) compared to food-secure peers. Significant effect modification emerged across ecological levels: poverty below the 200% federal poverty level (FPL) significantly amplified the food insecurity–obesity relationship (interaction p < 0.001), Hispanic and Black adolescents demonstrated 49% and 78% higher obesity odds, respectively, independent of household food and nutrition security status, and physical activity showed protective effects that varied by food security context (interaction p = 0.003). These findings underscore the necessity of multi-level interventions addressing structural inequities alongside individual behaviors to combat adolescent obesity in food-insecure populations effectively.

Food supply chains in the southern border counties of Texas and New Mexico face persistent disruptions driven by environmental, infrastruc­tural, socioeconomic, and policy-related stressors. Understanding these challenges is crucial for informing coordinated efforts to enhance regional food systems. We conducted a scoping review to identify and synthesize evidence on challenges and barriers affecting food supply chains in the region. Peer-reviewed articles and grey literature published between 2014 and 2024 were searched and appraised using the AACODS framework. Nine sources met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed to characterize cross-sectoral challenges spanning production, aggregation, distribution, and retail systems. Findings reveal a set of inter­connected barriers shaping regional food supply chains. Environmental stressors, including drought, aquifer depletion, extreme heat, and conflicts over water governance, limit agricultural productivity and increase reliance on external suppliers. Infra­structure gaps, particularly short­ages of aggregation hubs, cold storage facilities, and transportation networks, further constrain efficient movement of goods. Cross-border dependencies, such as inspection delays, regulatory shifts, and policy uncertainties at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry, exacerbate systemwide vulnera­bilities. Finally, retail-access inequities in rural colonias, where many communi­ties rely on small outlets with limited refrigeration and constrained inventory capacity, interact with structural affordability barriers, limiting the availability and variety of fresh, perishable foods. Across sectors, food supply chains in the Texas–New Mexico border region are shaped by cascading challenges that span environmental stressors, infrastructure deficits, and cross-border policy volatility. Upstream disruptions in water governance, labor stability, and aggregation capacity amplify trans­portation costs and downstream retail constraints. These findings identify actionable priorities for regional decision-makers, including strategic investment in cold-chain and aggregation infra­structure, coordinated binational port and inspec­tion processes to reduce spoilage risk, and workforce-stabilization policies that support small- and midscale producers.