The Nexus between Mediterranean Diet, Obesity and Climate Change

Obesity and climate change consist of two major problems which have severe economic, environmental, social and health impacts all over the world. Mediterranean diet used to be the traditional diet in Mediterranean region with many nutritious and health benefits and low environmental impacts. However, it has been replaced nowadays with the western diet or other similar diets. The interlinkages among Med diet, obesity and climate change have been studied. The interrelation among them have been analyzed indicating their complex interdependence. Obesity and climate change are mutually interlinked while the use of Mediterranean diet can reduce the obesity rates and mitigate climate change. It has also lower environmental impacts, compared to western diets, leading to sustainable agricultural systems. Climate change has adverse impacts to Mediterranean diet due to harmful impacts on agriculture. Our findings indicate that the broad adoption of Mediterranean diet would reduce the obesity rates, mitigate climate change, reduce the undesired environmental impacts of the food production system and promote the sustainable agriculture which is necessary for the healthy nutrition of an increasing global population. The results could be useful to national and international policy makers who are trying to develop policies for the mitigation of climate change and the reduction of obesity rates promoting nutritious, healthy and sustainable food production and consumption systems.