Purpose: Food insecurity is a significant public health issue with growing implications for health systems worldwide. This study aims to examine the impact of food insecurity on health systems and to review current approaches from a public health perspective. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed and Scopus. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2009 and 2026 were reviewed using keywords related to food insecurity, healthcare utilization, health outcomes, healthcare expenditures, and diet quality. Results: The findings indicate that food insecurity is associated with increased healthcare utilization, including more frequent emergency department visits and hospitalizations, higher healthcare expenditures, delayed access to preventive services, and poorer health outcomes. Emerging evidence suggests that food-based interventions and routine screening practices implemented within healthcare settings may improve dietary and clinical outcomes. In Türkiye, current approaches primarily rely on social assistance and community-based interventions, while integration into healthcare services remains limited. Conclusion: Food insecurity imposes a substantial burden on healthcare systems and requires coordinated action across healthcare, social support, and policy sectors. Integrating routine screening and referral mechanisms into primary healthcare services, together with targeted food-based interventions and stronger intersectoral collaboration, may contribute to more effective management of food insecurity. Further longitudinal and healthcare-oriented research is needed to evaluate system-level impacts and the cost-effectiveness of integrated interventions.
Yolcu, R., & Karakaya, R. E. (2026). Implications of Food Insecurity for the Health System: Current Approaches from a Public Health Perspective. International Journal of Active & Healthy Aging, 4(1), 39–48. https://doi.org/10.67015/ijaha.338
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Rahime Evra Karakaya
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