IMPACTO DA ALIMENTAÇÃO COLETIVA NA SAÚDE PÚBLICA: AVALIAÇÃO DOS EFEITOS DAS PRÁTICAS ALIMENTARES EM COMUNIDADES E COLETIVIDADES

Food insecurity has robust consequences, negatively affecting people's physical, mental and emotional health, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and predisposing them to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as increasing the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. In this context, food banks have proven to be a positive social response, acting as intermediaries in the distribution of surplus food and providing a vital safety net for vulnerable individuals and families. In addition to alleviating economic pressure on beneficiaries, allowing them to allocate their financial resources to other basic needs, such as health and education, these institutions promote public health by ensuring the availability of nutritious food and contribute to reducing social disparities, promoting human dignity and equal access to basic resources. The objective was, therefore, to identify the main comorbidities associated with poor diet among food bank users, to describe the impact of comorbidities on the frequency and type of assistance received at the banks. Methodologically, an exploratory and comparative bibliographic review was carried out using qualitative research. It was concluded that the challenges faced by individuals with comorbidities when accessing food banks are complex, highlighting the urgent need for more integrated approaches sensitive to specific health needs. Through a collaborative approach between food bank managers, policy makers and healthcare professionals, it is pertinent to mitigate the negative impacts of comorbidities on food security, thus promoting greater equity in access to nutritious and suitable food for all individuals, regardless of the health conditions they face.