ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Food insecurity (FI), characterized by difficulty or inability to access adequate food, has become a public health problem. OBJECTIVE: To analyze studies relating FI with nutritional status (NS) among older adults and the associated factors. DATA SEARCH: Articles published up to June 2020 were investigated in 5 databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and Web of Science. The search, selection, extraction, and quality evaluation were carried out by 2 reviewers. DATA EXTRACTION: The authors identified characteristics of the studies and the main data regarding the relationship of interest. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included in the review and their characteristics are summarized and presented using narrative synthesis. In 10 studies (45.4%), a relationship was observed between FI and malnutrition; in another 6 (27.3%), a relationship was observed between FI and being overweight. CONCLUSION: A relationship was identified between FI, especially severe forms, and malnutrition, as well as between FI, especially mild forms, and people being overweight. Thus, FI among older adults relates to a 2-fold burden of nutritional outcomes, depending on the level. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020185086.