The Role of Food Consumption in the Global Syndemic: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model

The increase in chronic diseases and climate change in recent decades has been driven by food systems that affect both human health and the environment. This study investigated the interrelation between food consumption, obesity, undernutrition, and climate change, aiming to understand how these factors connect within the global syndemic. The methodology used was a scoping review, in which 12 articles were analyzed after an initial search that resulted in 11,208 references. The references were screened using the Rayyan software (Rayyan Systems Inc. (Doha, Qatar), version 1.6.1 and web-based version), removing duplicates and assessing the studies based on eligibility criteria. The articles addressed different aspects, such as the relationship between food consumption, obesity, undernutrition, and climate change, providing data on how food insecurity and socioeconomic conditions influence these conditions. In sequence, we developed a conceptual model to offer a detailed view of the factors affecting the global syndemic, considering the availability of food, its accessibility, stability in supply, and its use in the diet. The model recognizes that climate change affects food consumption both directly and indirectly. Direct effects include the impact of extreme weather events—such as floods and droughts—on the availability, access, quantity, and quality of food. Indirectly, climate change exacerbates socioeconomic vulnerabilities and disrupts food systems in more structural ways, contributing to increased food insecurity. The findings revealed that food insecurity, in turn, can lead to both obesity and undernutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations. There was a scarcity of studies that integrated the relationship between undernutrition, climate change, and food consumption, especially in certain regional contexts such as Latin America. The evidence gathered in the literature and the conceptual model provide a foundation for future research and the development of more effective public policies that integrate food issues, public health, and climate change in a more holistic and interconnected approach.