Obesogenicity of food in the informal food retail environment of low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence on food environment obesogenicity has largely focused on the formal sector in high-income countries, overlooking informal food retail environments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Aim

To synthesise current evidence on the obesogenicity of foods in informal food retail environments in LMICs.

Methods

A systematic literature search across four academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost (Global Health) and EMBASE, using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the synthesis. Findings indicate the pervasive availability of unhealthy or more obesogenic alternatives at informal food outlets located at transport stops, public markets, schools and neighb

SUBMITTER: Muzenda T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12716535 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature