Food availability, access and consumption: is it a gender matter?

Abstract

In the present study, a descriptive and exploratory literature review was conducted, aimed at describing how food availability, access and consumption are crossed and linked to gender. From the database search strategy and manual search, 833 abstracts were retrieved from which 37 full texts were finally selected based on the inclusion criteria. The results show that there are marked gender differences in different aspects of food security. Women constitute a population particularly susceptible to food insecurity, with female-headed households being the most exposed to food insecurity (n=4). In turn, among food insecure women there is a higher prevalence of obesity compared to those who were food secure (n=8). Studies indicate that women subordinate their own needs to those of their children and partners when feeding themselves (n=5). In relation to access to food consumed within the household, the studies coincide on the importance of the role of women (n=3). The gender differences identified are a valuable contribution when addressing and analyzing food and nutrition issues in different settings, as well as when designing and implementing public health policies and interventions.