Nutrition transition is the shift in dietary consumption and energy expenditure that coincides with economic, demographic, and epidemiological changes.
[1] While these patterns largely appear chronological, it is important to note that they are not restricted to certain periods of human history and still characterize certain geographic and socioeconomic subpopulations.
The fourth pattern is one of degenerative diseases onset by a diet high in total fat, cholesterol, sugar, and other refined carbohydrates and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids and fiber.
Towards the end of this phase variation increases, but social stratification intensifies, with the most impoverished and women and children suffering the brunt of the burden of food scarcity.
Technological advancements are making previously arduous labor less difficult and thus altering energy expenditure that would have helped offset the caloric increases in the diet.
Urban populations are more susceptible to current trends in nutrition transition because of the improved transportation, commercial food distribution and marketing, less labor-intensive-occupations, and changes in household eating habits and structure.
These companies are making processed and fast foods much cheaper and more widely available through the growth of transnational supermarkets and chain restaurants.
Food is not only easier to obtain in urban areas; it is also cheaper and less time-consuming to acquire which creates an imbalance between energy intake and output.
Foreign direct investment is also stimulating processed food sales in these supermarkets by lowering prices and creating incentives for advertising and promotion.
[11] Even in agricultural work, gas-powered technologies are helping reduce the energy expenditure needed to perform pertinent farming tasks.
Daily tasks that were once laborious engagements are now much easier with the help of technological advancements, with examples being appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, and stoves.
[6] Decreasing physical leisure activities can also be contributed to urbanization wherein access to fields needed to play such games as soccer are not available due to such dense populations and their subsequent demand for land.
[6][13] Processes of globalization that have influenced food markets have made these products much cheaper, flavorful, and easier to produce which has in turn driven up their demand.
[10] Additionally some cultures view obese body types in high regard as they relate them to power, beauty and affluence.
[15][20][21] While increased food security is a major benefit of global nutrition transition, there are a myriad of coinciding negative health and economic consequences.
[36] As such, it is becoming increasingly common to see low-to-middle income countries battle with century old issues such as food insecurity and undernutrition, in addition to emerging health epidemics such as chronic heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes.
Diseases once characteristic of industrialized nations, are increasingly becoming health challenges of epidemic proportions in many low-to-middle income countries.
Disability, decreased quality of life, greater use of health care facilities and increased absenteeism are strongly associated with obesity.
This is often attributed to the fact that these countries by nature have ill-health systems that possess inadequate resources to detect and prevent many non-communicable diseases.
[34] If current trends are maintained, the World Health Organization predicts that low-and-middle income countries will be unable to support the burden of disease within the foreseeable future.
Nutrition labeling has been emphasized as important in influencing food choices and potentially reducing the intake of fat, sugar, and sodium.
Efforts by corporations should reverse drivers of food consumption, including convenience, low cost, good taste, and nutritional knowledge.
Recommendations include downsizing packaging, reducing serving sizes, and recreating formulas to decrease caloric content.
The WHO supported economic policies as a method of influencing food prices and promoting healthy eating in public spaces (cite, 2008).
[38] However, the effectiveness of taxation remains under scrutiny – economists argue that taxes are inefficient for combating obesity and can result in greater losses for consumers.
[40] The literature suggests that it may be ideal for governments to adopt a holistic policy approach to address the obesity epidemic, given the associated social conditions.
[41] "Policy package" recommendations have been a supported framework for preventing obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases worldwide because they are adaptable to country-specific circumstances.
For instance, the NOURISHING framework summarizes key avenues for action and policy but is flexible to suit a range of national and local contexts.
[43] Given the scope of the pandemic but the diverse place-based trends and risk factors, appropriate and adequate intervention calls for policy change across multiple levels – population and individual – and the need for international collaboration.
Food consumption provided essential fats (i.e., fatty acids) and proteins that played a key medicinal role in the prevention and reduction of obesity and obesity-related diseases.