Food insecurity (FI) has negative implications across the life course that include poor health outcomes among both children and adults. However, the behavioral mechanisms by which FI impacts health behaviors are not clear. By understanding how FI is related to cognitive function/brain structure across the life course, we can design more targeted interventions. A systematic literature review was performed by conducting comprehensive database searches in Google Scholar and PubMed. Inclusion criteria required studies to include measures of FI and cognitive function/brain structure in humans. Study sample, design, outcomes, and biases were extracted. In total, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Cognitive domains included general cognition (n = 13), executive function (n = 10), visuospatial abilities (n = 4), and verbal memory (n = 8). No studies examined brain structure. Most studies (88%) indicated significant inverse associations between FI and cognitive function across all stages of the life course, particularly for general cognition and executive function. Significant inverse associations were observed between FI and either general cognition or executive function among children (n = 3) and adults (n = 12). All studies considered confounding variables; however, given that all were observational, no causality can be inferred from the findings. These findings indicate that FI is related to lower cognitive function across the life course. Research should explore how changes in food security status impacts cognitive function and brain structure to develop optimal FI interventions and improve cognitive health.

Context: Food insecurity (FI) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) disproportionally affect vulnerable populations and are key social determinants of health that predict nutrition-related outcomes. It is critical to understand how FI and ACEs are interrelated so prevention studies can be designed to better promote health equity. Objective: A systematic literature review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to determine the association between FI and ACEs. Data Sources: Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to find articles relevant to the study. Inclusion criteria included quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies of humans, using an experimental or observational research design to examine the relationship between FI and ACEs using the validated ACEs measure in its entirety. Data Extraction: Studies were assessed for study design, data set, population descriptions, and results of the association between FI and ACEs. Additionally, all included studies were assessed for bias and validity. Data Analysis: A total of 10 articles were included in the systematic review. Of those articles, 9 were reports on cross-sectional studies, and 1 reported on a longitudinal study; however, all 10 studies used a retrospective approach. Six studies were conducted using secondary data. Results reported in all 10 articles indicated a significant positive association between FI and ACEs. Evidence indicated greater odds of FI among individuals with high ACE scores, with most studies indicating a dose-response or a threshold effect of higher ACEs being associated with more severe FI. Conclusions: FI and ACEs are consistently related. Prevention study interventions should be designed to address FI and problems stemming from ACEs. Filling knowledge gaps regarding the relationship between ACEs and FI is critical for designing nutrition interventions that promote food security, prevent the occurrence of ACEs, and improve health outcomes among vulnerable populations with high ACEs. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no.: CRD42020210106.

Background: Food insecurity is an ongoing public health issue that involves limited or uncertain access to food. National rates of food insecurity among U.S. households have increased from 10.2% (~ 13,500,000 households) in 2021 to 12.8% (~ 17,000,000 households) in 2022 and most recently 13.5% (~ 18,000,000 households) in 2023. Food insecurity is associated with various health conditions and behaviors that raise the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Little is known about whether the associations between food insecurity and CVD risk factors among U.S. adults differ by gender and race/ethnicity. Methods: The 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset was accessed for a cross-sectional study on the associations between food insecurity and six CVD risk factors among U.S. adults. Food insecurity was measured with the 10-item Adult Food Security Survey Module. General linear models were used to analyze the associations between food insecurity and high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking, sedentary time, and body mass index (BMI). Moderation analyses examined differences in the association between food insecurity and CVD risk factors by gender and race/ethnicity. Results: Food insecurity was positively associated with high blood pressure (B = 0.104, p = 0.04), diabetes (B = 0.087, p = 0.006), and cigarette smoking (B = 0.239, p = 0.002); and food insecurity was negatively associated with sedentary time (B=-0.765, p = 0.02). Moderation analyses for gender revealed that women who were food insecure had greater BMI than men who were food insecure (B = 2.284, p = 0.02). Moderation analyses for race/ethnicity determined that, compared to White adults with food insecurity, high blood pressure rates were lower among Asian (B=-0.164, p = 0.04) and Black (B=-0.153, p = 0.04) adults with food insecurity, high cholesterol rates were greater among Latino adults with food insecurity (B = 0.168, p = 0.04), and cigarette smoking rates were lower among Black (B=-0.246, p = 0.03) and Latino (B=-0.380, p = 0.006) adults with food insecurity. Conclusions: This research produced useful insight into how food insecurity relates to conditions and behaviors that increase CVD risk. Evidence from this study can inform both longitudinal and prevention efforts aimed at investigating food insecurity as both a harmful social determinant of health and a potential predictor of CVD risk among U.S. adults. Trial registration: N/A.

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include potentially traumatic exposures to neglect, abuse, and household problems involving substance abuse, mental illness, divorce, incarceration, and death. Past study findings suggest ACEs contribute to depression, while physical activity alleviates depression. Little is known about the link between ACEs and physical activity as it relates to depression among U.S. adults. This research had a primary objective of determining the role of physical activity within the link between ACEs and depression. The significance of this study involves examining physical activity as a form of behavioral medicine. Methods: Data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were fit to Pearson chi-square and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the links between ACEs and depression, ACEs and physical activity, and physical activity and depression among U.S. adults ages 18-and-older (n = 117,204) from 21 states and the District of Columbia, while also determining whether physical activity attenuates the association between ACEs and depression. Results: Findings from chi-square analyses indicated that ACEs are related to physical activity (χ² = 19.4, df = 1; p<0.01) and depression (χ² = 6,841.6, df = 1; p<0.0001). Regression findings suggest ACEs were linked to depression (AOR = 1.050; 95% CI = 1.049, 1.051). ACEs and physical activity (AOR = 0.994; 95% CI = 0.992, 0.995) and physical activity and depression (AOR = 0.927; 95% CI = 0.922, 0.932) were both inversely related. Physical activity mitigated the link between ACEs and depression (AOR = 0.995; 95% CI = 0.993, 0.996). Conclusions: This research addressed a critical knowledge gap concerning how ACEs and physical activity contribute to depression outcomes among U.S. adults. Findings suggest physical activity mitigates the effect of ACEs on depression. Future studies should apply physical activity interventions to alleviate depression among U.S. adults with high ACEs.

Objective: To examine differences in the availability, variety and distribution of foods and beverages sold at street food stands (SFS) across neighbourhood income levels in Mexico City.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: Twenty neighbourhoods representing low-, middle- and high-income levels in Mexico City.Participants: Direct observations of SFS (n 391).Results: The availability of healthy foods such as fruits/vegetables was high in middle- and high-income neighbourhoods, whereas the availability of unhealthy foods such as processed snacks was higher in low-income neighbourhoods. However, statistically significant differences in food availability across neighbourhoods were only observed for dairy and processed snack items (P < 0·05). Similarly, differences in variety were only observed for cereal and processed snacks (P < 0·05). No statistically significant differences were seen for variety of fruits/vegetable across neighbourhood income levels (P > 0·05). No statistically significant differences across neighbourhood income levels were observed for beverage availability and variety (P > 0·05). Although street foods and beverages were often distributed near homes, public transportation centres and worksites, no differences were observed across neighbourhood income levels (P > 0·05).Conclusions: Findings suggest that SFS can be a source of both unhealthy foods and healthy foods for communities across neighbourhoods in Mexico City. Additional studies are needed to assess the relationship between street food and beverage availability, and consumption.