The impact of malnutrition and public health in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the impact of malnutrition on public health in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), focusing on vulnerable populations such as children, adolescents, Indigenous communities, and women. The findings reveal gender and age disparities in malnutrition forms—stunting and wasting—with males generally exhibiting higher stunting odds and wasting risk, while regional differences show elevated child malnutrition in countries like Guatemala and Bolivia and higher adolescent female malnutrition in Brazil and Ecuador. Socioeconomic factors, including low wealth and maternal education, are critical determinants of malnutrition outcomes, emphasizing the importance of women’s autonomy and targeted, culturally sensitive interventions. The review underscores the dual burden of malnutrition in LAC, where undernutrition coexists with rising obesity rates, necessitating multifaceted strategies involving food system reforms, healthcare strengthening, and multisectoral policies to address nutritional inequities and improve health outcomes.