Background: Food insecurity and obesity are increasing both globally and in the UK. In thisreview we systematically assess the lived experiences of people with obesity who are food insecure and often turn to foodbanks.
Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases from January 2007 until October 2022. Data from eligible studies were extracted and the studies assessed for quality. Thematicanalysis and narrative synthesis approach was used to analyse the extracted data.
Results: Six themes were identified among 25 included studies, including: the financial cost of food; psychological aspects related to food insecurity; geographical access and the foodenvironment; food practices in the home; experience of food assistance; and parental-childrelationships. The cost of healthy food and psychological factors were identified as keydriving factors of the relationship between food insecurity and obesity. Psychological factorssuch as depression, low self-esteem and stress played an important part in the livedexperience of people with obesity and food insecurity.
Conclusion: The food environment provides context in which food decisions are made,therefore, systems change is necessary to ensure families can afford the food that enables ahealthy diet. For clinicians, identification, and attention to the impact of food insecurity onpeople with obesity are important.
Keywords: food choice; food environment; obesity.
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