Could Changing What You Eat Save the Earth?
Lately, the number of people dealing with obesity and being overweight around the world has skyrocketed, posing big health challenges. At the same time, how we eat is taking a toll on the environment, and with the world’s population steadily growing, figuring out a solution is more urgent than ever. This article looks at the links between health, our diets, and keeping things sustainable, sharing what experts recommend for reworking our food systems.
Growing obesity rates
According to the World Health Organization, in 2016 about 1.9 billion adults worldwide were considered overweight, with 600 million of them classified as obese. In countries like the United States, New Zealand, Mexico, and Hungary, nearly one-third of adult citizens fall into the obese category. And it’s not just adults—millions of kids around the globe are also facing weight issues.
These numbers affect not only personal well-being but also put a heavy load on healthcare systems everywhere. As communities try to sort out these challenges, it’s clear that switching up our eating habits is a big part of the answer.
How our diets are affecting the planet
Every meal we eat has consequences that stretch far beyond our own health. Overindulgent diets are proving to be unsustainable for the environment. With forecasts showing the world population could hit 10 billion by 2050—and as developing nations see rising incomes—pressure on food production will only intensify. It’s also startling how much food is wasted each year, which makes things even worse.
Food production leaves behind a huge carbon footprint and drains our resources. That’s why it makes sense to rethink our consumption patterns and move toward more sustainable practices.
What the experts say
A three-year study by a panel of 37 experts from 16 countries offers a wealth of insight into these issues. Published in The Lancet, the study brings together expertise from health, nutrition, sustainable practices, food systems, economics, and political governance.
The experts argue that our global food system needs a complete overhaul. Professor Tim Lang puts it this way: “The food we eat and how we produce it determines the health of people and the planet, and we are currently getting this seriously wrong.” He suggests that changes should be tailored to each country’s situation, while also noting that our current eating habits just don’t work on a worldwide scale.
Food system changes we need
To really turn things around, experts are calling for several shifts in our diets. For example, North Americans are consuming nearly 6.5 times the recommended amount of red meat, and in every surveyed country, people are eating too many starchy vegetables—ranging from 1.5 times the advisable amount in South Asia to 7.5 times in sub-Saharan Africa.
Big changes are on the horizon for the coming years and decades. The recommendations include cutting red meat and sugar consumption by half by 2050 while doubling the servings of nuts, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. As Dr. Walter Willett points out, “To be healthy, diets must have an appropriate calorie intake and consist of a variety of plant-based foods…”
Making food production greener
Our approach to growing and producing food has to keep our planet’s well-being in mind. Sustainability should lead the way in food production techniques. This means protecting existing biodiversity without needing extra land, managing water wisely, cutting down on nitrogen/phosphorus pollution, working toward zero carbon dioxide emissions, and keeping methane and nitrous oxide emissions in check (all important steps toward a more sustainable future). As Professor Johan Rockström notes, “There is no silver bullet for fighting harmful food production practices…”
Tackling both high obesity rates and the ways our diets affect the environment calls for teamwork across many fields. Healthcare providers promoting healthier lifestyles, teamed up with policymakers enacting greener agricultural practices, can help pave the way for future generations to live healthier lives within the natural limits of our planet.