Exploring food insecurity’s impact on eating behaviours in Canada’s younger populations: an integrative review

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity, characterized by inadequate access to sufficient and nutritious food, poses significant challenges in Canada. Despite efforts to address this issue, food insecurity remains prevalent, particularly among younger populations. It has been linked to adverse health outcomes and altered eating behaviour. Purpose: This research aims to explore the impact of food insecurity on eating behaviours among Canada's younger populations over the past five years, focusing on the a) empirical relationships between food insecurity and eating behaviours and b) the gaps and limitations in the research. Method: Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review methodology will be utilized to conduct a comprehensive synthesis of empirical studies, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and gray literature, to understand the multifaceted relationship between food insecurity and eating behaviours. The Social Ecological Model will be used to understand the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy impacts. Discussion: The results of this review have the potential to inform policies and interventions aimed at addressing food insecurity and improving eating behaviours among Canadian children, adolescents and young adults. Identifying the research gaps will also allow us to guide future research prioritization in the country.