The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change: The Lancet Commission report

Boyd A. Swinburn*, Vivica I. Kraak, Steven Allender, Vincent J. Atkins, Phillip I. Baker, Jessica R. Bogard, Hannah Brinsden, Alejandro Calvillo, Olivier De Schutter, Raji Devarajan, Majid Ezzati, Sharon Friel, Shifalika Goenka, Ross A. Hammond, Gerard Hastings, Corinna Hawkes, Mario Herrero, Peter S. Hovmand, Mark Howden, Lindsay M. JaacksAriadne B. Kapetanaki, Matt Kasman, Harriet V. Kuhnlein, Shiriki K. Kumanyika, Bagher Larijani, Tim Lobstein, Michael W. Long, Victor K.R. Matsudo, Susanna D.H. Mills, Gareth Morgan, Alexandra Morshed, Patricia M. Nece, An Pan, David W. Patterson, Gary Sacks, Meera Shekar, Geoff L. Simmons, Warren Smit, Ali Tootee, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Wilma E. Waterlander, Luke Wolfenden, William H. Dietz

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    1725 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Malnutrition in all its forms, including obesity, undernutrition, and other dietary risks, is the leading cause of poor health globally. In the near future, the health effects of climate change will considerably compound these health challenges. Climate change can be considered a pandemic because of its sweeping effects on the health of humans and the natural systems we depend on (ie, planetary health). These three pandemicsobesity, undernutrition, and climate changerepresent The Global Syndemic that affects most people in every country and region worldwide. They constitute a syndemic, or synergy of epidemics, because they co-occur in time and place, interact with each other to produce complex sequelae, and share common underlying societal drivers. This Commission recommends comprehensive actions to address obesity within the context of The Global Syndemic, which represents the paramount health challenge for humans, the environment, and our planet in the 21st century.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)791-846
    Number of pages56
    JournalThe Lancet
    Volume393
    Issue number10173
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 23 Feb 2019

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