Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness
Two of the greatest challenges of our times - climate change and the linked epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease - are fueled in part by the over-consumption of carbon-intensive high calorie foodstuffs. Converging evidence from hundreds of studies has confirmed that transitioni...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Preventive Medicine Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522001851 |
| _version_ | 1811218381491142656 |
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| author | Bruce Barrett |
| author_facet | Bruce Barrett |
| author_sort | Bruce Barrett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Two of the greatest challenges of our times - climate change and the linked epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease - are fueled in part by the over-consumption of carbon-intensive high calorie foodstuffs. Converging evidence from hundreds of studies has confirmed that transitioning from diets high in meat and dairy to largely plant-based diets not only is necessary for climate change mitigation but will also lead to substantive reductions in morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, there are only the faintest beginnings of a robust science of behavioral eco-wellness, defined here as the study of how individual choices, behaviors, and habits impact both personal health and environmental sustainability. This paper focusses on the sub-field of dietary eco-wellness, which looks at health and sustainability impacts of food production, procurement, preparation, and consumption. To advance this crucial agenda, investigators will need to invent, develop, and assess approaches aimed at helping people transition towards healthier and more sustainable diets. In order to accurately and reliably assess appropriate outcomes, existing assessment methods will need to be refined, new techniques will need to be advanced, and all measurement methods will need to be validated. Local conditions will influence the effectiveness of various approaches, and so it is important that scientists and communities share their stories of success and challenge for others to learn from. This paper reviews emerging evidence from relevant studies in dozens of countries, suggesting next steps, potential pathways, and a framework for interpretation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:08:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4cf065191e4a41fa99cda2c41caaf3ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-3355 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:08:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-4cf065191e4a41fa99cda2c41caaf3ed2022-12-22T03:42:43ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552022-08-0128101878Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellnessBruce Barrett0Dept Family Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, United StatesTwo of the greatest challenges of our times - climate change and the linked epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease - are fueled in part by the over-consumption of carbon-intensive high calorie foodstuffs. Converging evidence from hundreds of studies has confirmed that transitioning from diets high in meat and dairy to largely plant-based diets not only is necessary for climate change mitigation but will also lead to substantive reductions in morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, there are only the faintest beginnings of a robust science of behavioral eco-wellness, defined here as the study of how individual choices, behaviors, and habits impact both personal health and environmental sustainability. This paper focusses on the sub-field of dietary eco-wellness, which looks at health and sustainability impacts of food production, procurement, preparation, and consumption. To advance this crucial agenda, investigators will need to invent, develop, and assess approaches aimed at helping people transition towards healthier and more sustainable diets. In order to accurately and reliably assess appropriate outcomes, existing assessment methods will need to be refined, new techniques will need to be advanced, and all measurement methods will need to be validated. Local conditions will influence the effectiveness of various approaches, and so it is important that scientists and communities share their stories of success and challenge for others to learn from. This paper reviews emerging evidence from relevant studies in dozens of countries, suggesting next steps, potential pathways, and a framework for interpretation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522001851Climate changeDietary intakeEnvironmental healthHealth behaviorNutritionSustainability |
| spellingShingle | Bruce Barrett Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness Preventive Medicine Reports Climate change Dietary intake Environmental health Health behavior Nutrition Sustainability |
| title | Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness |
| title_full | Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness |
| title_fullStr | Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness |
| title_short | Health and sustainability co-benefits of eating behaviors: Towards a science of dietary eco-wellness |
| title_sort | health and sustainability co benefits of eating behaviors towards a science of dietary eco wellness |
| topic | Climate change Dietary intake Environmental health Health behavior Nutrition Sustainability |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335522001851 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brucebarrett healthandsustainabilitycobenefitsofeatingbehaviorstowardsascienceofdietaryecowellness |