About this Research Topic

Background

According to the World Health Organization, 39% of adults are overweight globally, with an additional 13% being obese. Furthermore, more than 370 million children are overweight or obese worldwide. Accordingly, the global obesity prevalence exceeds that of the underweight, emphasizing the increased risk of non-communicable diseases associated with elevated body mass index (BMI), such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The association between food insecurity and increased obesity risk has prompted a focus on nutrition security, which occurs when all individuals have access to sufficient and consistent food that supports optimal health and well-being (including reducing obesity risk). As such, obesity is relevant to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), traditionally being linked to Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). However, obesity is also relevant to additional SDGs, including Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and Climate Action (SDG 13).

Obesity, according to a growing body of data, is more than just a health and nutrition concern; it is a sustainable development issue with environmental, ethical, social, and economic implications. However, the existing literature focuses mainly on obesity as a dietary and health issue. As a result, this Research Topic emphasizes the need for a holistic, systemic approach. This will be crucial to understand better the impacts of obesity on sustainability and vice versa, but also to design strategies, policies, and partnerships that address obesity in a way that supports, or at the very least does not jeopardize, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This Research Topic aims to showcase original research articles, reviews, methods articles, and policy and practice reviews on the relationship between obesity and sustainability/sustainable development. The specific themes addressed in the collection include, but are not limited to:

• Obesity (or related non-communicable diseases) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Obesity and nutrition security or the triple burden of malnutrition;
• Obesity and food loss and waste;
• Impact of sustainable diets on obesity or related outcomes;
• Environmental impacts of obesity (management of natural resources, carbon footprint, climate change, water footprint, ecological footprint, land use, etc.);
• Socio-economic impacts of obesity (costs for health systems, gender inequities, etc.);
• Obesity and income inequality;
• Ethical issues relating to obesity and sustainability/sustainable development;
• Causes and social determinants of obesity with a particular focus on food environment inequities across population segments (e.g. ethnic groups, Indigenous communities, high and low-income countries, etc.).

Keywords: obesity, Malnutrition, Overweight, Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Sustainable development, Sustainable diets, Food loss and waste, Non-communicable diseases, NCDs, Diabetes, Nutrition security, Food security, Food environment, Food quality, Food access, Food procurement, Cooking, Eating habit

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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