Interlinkages between Climate Change and Food Systems: The Impact on Child Malnutrition—Narrative Review

Abstract

The pandemics of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change represent severe threats to child health. They co-occur; interact with each other to produce sequelae at biological, psychological, or social levels; and share common underlying drivers. In this paper, we review the key issues concerning child diet and nutritional status, focusing on the interactions with climate and food systems. Inadequate infant and young child feeding practices, food insecurity, poverty, and limited access to health services are the leading causes of malnutrition across generations. Food system industrialization and globalization lead to a double burden of malnutrition, whereby undernutrition (i.e., stunting, wasting, and deficiencies in micronutrients) coexists with overweight and obesity, as well as to harmful effects on climate. Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are worsening child malnutrition, impacting the main underlying causes (i.e., household food security, dietary diversity, nutrient quality, and access to maternal and child health), as well as the social, economic, and political factors determining food security and nutrition (livelihoods, income, infrastructure resources, and political context). Existing interventions have the potential to be further scaled-up to concurrently address undernutrition, overnutrition, and climate change by cross-cutting education, agriculture, food systems, and social safety nets. Several stakeholders must work co-operatively to improve global sustainable nutrition.

Better understanding of use of blended diets and its benefits

“…Blended diets are often used in combination with commercial enteral formulae which is a good way of nutritional and energy enrichment of blended diets. However, it is reported that families require a good education, engagement and support from dietitians to properly use blended diets for enteral feeding 5. Current data and evidence given by this review confirm the findings of previous reports.…”

“…In addition, the use of blended diets is also linked to sustainable nutrition. However, the environmental ramifications of blended diets versus artificial nutrition have not been thoroughly studied, warranting further investigation 5…”

Adherence to WHO guidelines on severe pneumonia management in children and its impact on outcome: an observational study at Jinka General Hospital in Ethiopia

“…Malnutrition is a major problem in the Horn of Africa, with South Omo being one of the most affected areas ( 31 , 32 ). While we are writing about the “perfect storm” of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the wheat crisis are worsening the risk for this already extremely frail population ( 31 , 33 ). A study conducted in South-West Ethiopia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic found a recovery rate from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) of 68% in children aged 6–59 months, which was lower than the minimum accepted international standard of 75%, and a lower recovery rate when SAM was comorbid with pneumonia ( 34 ).…”

The Climate Crisis and Breastfeeding: Opportunities for Resilience

“…The epidemics of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change interact to produce shared threats to child health. Even within the United States, the world’s wealthiest economy, around 11% of children are food insecure (Agostoni et al, 2023; Ullmann et al, 2022). Preventative measures taken in the short term to address these issues are important for mitigation, future adaptation, and resilience.…”