Launch of the Latin American and Caribbean landscape report on food security and healthy diets

Findings from the Latin American and Caribbean landscape report of food security and healthy diets, which applies the International framework for healthy diets from PAHO/WHO.
The report examines food security, dietary quality, and nutrition trends across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), revealing significant gender differences that persist across multiple dimensions of food security and healthy diets. Using data from multiple sources, including statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Global Diet Quality Database1, harmonized multisite studies such as the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) and Urban Health in Latin America (SALURBAL) project, and systematic reviews, the analysis applies the four principles of healthy diets (adequacy, balance, diversity, moderation) to assess regional nutrition status and highlight critical gender gaps. This work is funded by the CGIAR Science Program on Better Diets and Nutrition, and it is timely as Latin America and the Caribbean have undergone and are undergoing a significant nutrition transition, with rising rates of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases, while still experiencing substantial food insecurity. The findings are essential for informing evidence-based policy interventions and programs to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and for advancing gender equity in the region. The primary audience includes policymakers, public health officials, development practitioners, researchers, and nutrition program managers in LAC countries who are designing and implementing food security and nutrition policies and strategies.