Food Insecurity and Overcrowding: The Concurrence Between Two Social Determinants of Health in Urban Chilean Households

Household overcrowding and food insecurity are interconnected indicators of socioeconomic hardship linked to health inequities. Using data from 58,615 urban adults in Chile’s 2022 CASEN survey, we mapped their national distribution and found overlapping hotspots in the north and metropolitan regions. Food insecurity was measured with FIES and overcrowding via the persons-per-bedroom ratio. Multivariable logistic regression showed that high overcrowding increased the odds of food insecurity by 31% (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.04–1.65). Female sex, foreign nationality, unemployment, and poverty raised risk, while older age and higher income were protective. The findings emphasize the need for coordinated, rights-based approaches that transcend traditional sectoral boundaries, advocating for integrated housing and food policies.