Peer-reviewed article
Breaking the Cycle of Malnutrition: The Role of Food and Nutrition Literacy in Addressing Food Insecurity Among Lebanese Adolescents.
Elie Ghadban, Tigresse Boutros, Souheil Hallit, Nikolaos Tzenios, Yonna Sacre et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how food and nutrition literacy in Lebanese adolescents and their parents relates to food insecurity and malnutrition during Lebanon's economic and health crises. Researchers surveyed 442 adolescents aged 10-18 and their parents across all eight governorates between March and July 2022. Adolescents with higher food and nutrition literacy were significantly less likely to experience severe food insecurity, as were adolescents with parents who had higher food literacy. The findings suggest that education about food and nutrition, combined with economic support, could help reduce malnutrition in crisis-affected youth.
Key points
- Higher adolescent food and nutrition literacy was significantly associated with lower odds of severe food insecurity (adjusted odds ratio 0.43)
- Higher parental food literacy scores were linked to reduced odds of severe household food insecurity (adjusted odds ratio 0.94)
- Severe food insecurity was more common in households in Akkar governorate and among adolescents not attending school
- Overweight/obesity was associated with attending private school and higher parental BMI, but inversely associated with higher child food security
- No significant association was found between food insecurity and stunting
Limitations
This cross-sectional study identifies associations but cannot establish causation between food literacy and food insecurity. The use of snowball sampling may introduce selection bias and limit generalisability beyond the sampled population.
Abstract
Background: Undernutrition and overnutrition are considered a rising challenge among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, including Lebanon, where overlapping economic, political, and public health crises have worsened food insecurity. Food and nutrition literacy in adolescents may serve as protective factors against food insecurity and its nutritional consequences. This study aims to evaluate the associations between adolescent and parental food and nutrition literacy with household and adolescent food insecurity, and explores their relationship with stunting and overweight/obesity. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and July 2022 among 442 Lebanese adolescents (10-18 years) and one parent/caregiver per household, recruited via snowball sampling from all eight governorates. Validated tools assessed adolescent food and nutrition literacy, parental food literacy, household/adolescent food insecurity, and anthropometric status. Chi-square, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regressions identified factors associated with food insecurity, stunting, and overweight/obesity. Results: Higher adolescent food and nutrition literacy was significantly associated with lower odds of severe food insecurity (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26-0.70). Higher parental food literacy scores were linked to reduced odds of severe household food insecurity (aOR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98). Severe food insecurity was more likely in households in Akkar and among adolescents not attending school or with poor food and nutrition literacy. Overweight/obesity was positively associated with attending private school and higher parental body mass index, but inversely associated with higher child food security and household crowding index. No significant association was found between food insecurity and stunting. Conclusions: Both adolescent and parental food and nutrition literacy are protective against severe food insecurity, highlighting the value of literacy-focused interventions alongside economic support measures. Addressing both educational and structural determinants may help break the cycle of malnutrition in crisis-affected Lebanese youth.