The Relationship between Food Security and Nutritional Status (Wasting): Literature Review

Abstract

Malnutrition in toddlers remains a public health challenge in Indonesia. Malnutrition (wasting) is an important indicator reflecting the imbalance between children's nutritional intake and needs. One important factor associated with malnutrition is household food security. This study aims to analyze the relationship between food security and malnutrition in toddlers based on the results of a literature review. This study used a literature review to examine the relationship between food security and malnutrition. Data was obtained from Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed using the keywords "malnutrition," "wasting," "food security," "nutritional status," and "child nutrition." The publication period was limited to 2021–2026. Articles were then screened based on relevance, full-text availability, and suitability to the research objectives. A total of 227 articles were identified, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria, and 5 articles. Data analysis was conducted descriptively by comparing and summarizing the findings from selected articles related to food security and the incidence of malnutrition in toddlers. The results indicate that most studies found a significant relationship between household food security and the nutritional status of toddlers. Households with low food security tend to have toddlers with malnutrition. Other factors such as energy intake, maternal education, family income, and sanitation conditions also play a role in influencing children's nutritional status. Inadequate food security impacts the quality and quantity of food consumption, thereby increasing the risk of malnutrition in toddlers. The conclusion of this literature review is that household food security is a significant factor associated with the incidence of malnutrition in toddlers.