Obesity, Under-Nutrition, climate change are interrelated pandemics: Lancet Report

Obesity, Under-Nutrition, climate change are interrelated pandemics: Lancet Report

News

According to the Global Syndemic of Obesity, undernutrition, and Climate Change: The Lancet Commission Report, the pandemics of obesity, undernutrition and climate change are interrelated.

Important facts

1. The report terms the interplay of obesity, undernutrition and climate change The Global Syndemic stating that this is the greatest threat to human and planetary health.

How does obesity, undernutrition and climate change interact with each other?

1. Climate change will increase under-nutrition through increased food insecurity by giving rising to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.
2. The impact on agriculture will affect prices of basic food commodities especially fruits and vegetables, potentially increasing consumption of processed and unhealthy foods thus resulting in obesity.

Suggestions

The report calls for establishing Framework Convention on Food Systems (FCS) to restrict the influence of food industry in policy making and to mobilise national action for healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems.