Review links food insecurity with poorer well-being among adults with cancer
Seven mostly observational studies found associations with lower quality of life, emotional distress, and difficulties affording food or medicines.
High evidenceReviewSome caution advised
Medical disclaimer: This article summarizes research findings and is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.
Editorial illustration — not from the study.
Researchers searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL for studies published from database inception through August 2024. Of 158 records identified, seven observational studies were included; all but one were conducted in the United States, and one was conducted in Egypt.
The studies reported that food insecurity was common, although estimates varied with the population and measurement tool. The review linked it with worse mental health, lower physical and emotional well-being, financial difficulties, and reduced adherence to treatment. Because most included studies measured people at one point in time, the review cannot determine whether food insecurity directly caused these outcomes or quantify its effect on survival.
The question reviewed
The researchers conducted a systematic review of studies involving adults with cancer who were receiving active treatment or were otherwise covered by the eligibility criteria. They searched three databases, followed PRISMA reporting methods, registered a protocol in PROSPERO, and independently screened, extracted, and assessed the studies. The review began with 158 records and included seven observational studies: mainly cross-sectional studies and one prospective cohort study. The studies examined food insecurity in relation to treatment-related outcomes, quality of life, mental health, financial effects, and related cancer-care outcomes.
What the evidence shows
The review reported food-insecurity estimates ranging from 17% to 71% in the abstract; the detailed results section reported a broader range of 7.8% to 75.4%, depending on the population and measurement method. In the included human studies, food insecurity was associated with lower quality of life, greater fatigue or exhaustion, poorer mental and emotional well-being, depressive symptoms, distress, financial stress, and limited access to adequate nutrition. It was also associated with reduced adherence to treatment and difficulty accessing medicines. Some studies reported higher food insecurity among Black and Hispanic patients. The review did not provide pooled effect estimates, and the observational evidence cannot show that food insecurity caused these outcomes.
Who this is relevant to
The findings may be relevant to adults with cancer populations similar to those studied, especially people receiving active cancer care in the United States and Egypt. They may not apply equally to children, people who are only cancer survivors and no longer receiving active treatment, or populations in regions not represented in the review. Because the underlying studies were observational and varied in design, the results describe group-level associations rather than predicting what will happen to any individual.
The significance
Food insecurity may be an important social and financial factor affecting how adults with cancer experience illness and care. The findings indicate that cancer-related outcomes are linked not only to medical issues but also to access to food and the ability to manage competing household and treatment costs. The review supports further research across more regions and with stronger study designs, while its findings should not be interpreted as proof of a direct causal effect on survival or prognosis.
Limitations & evidence assessment
Only seven studies met the criteria, and most were cross-sectional, meaning food insecurity and outcomes were generally assessed at the same time. The studies varied substantially in their populations and measurement tools, and the review did not report pooled measures of association or descriptive statistics for the combined evidence. All studies were conducted in the United States except one from Egypt, leaving major regions underrepresented, including Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Sample sizes varied widely, and some studies were small. These limitations reduce certainty about how common food insecurity is in other cancer populations and whether it directly affects treatment, prognosis, or survival.
Why this evidence level: Systematic review aggregating primary studies with explicit methodology.
Evidence levels are editorial estimates derived from study metadata — they are not clinical appraisals.
// Source
Journal of Public Health · 2026 · DOI: 10.1007/s10389-026-02901-1
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