Editorial: Obesity and sustainability

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is high globally, both among adults and children. Moreover, the prevalence of obesity exceeds that of underweight, which implies an increased risk of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with elevated body mass index (BMI), e.g., cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, obesity continues to be one of the most pressing global health challenges. However, evidence shows that obesity is more than just a health and nutritional issue; it is a sustainable development issue with social, environmental, ethical, and economic determinants and implications. Despite that, the existing scholarly literature centers obesity as a dietary and health issue. The growing recognition of the association between food insecurity and obesity has prompted a shift toward prioritizing nutrition security, which occurs when all individuals have access to sufficient and consistent food that supports optimal health and wellbeing in a manner that does not undermine one's cultural foodways. Accordingly, this Research Topic presents a compilation of papers that collectively examine the complex relationship between obesity and sustainability. These eight articles explicate the obesity-sustainability nexus: socio-economic factors and determinants, the role of culture in food waste behaviors, and the use of nutrition-sensitive diets and agriculture in addressing these public health priorities.