Awareness of climate change and the dietary choices of young adults in Finland: a population-based cross-sectional study

Relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, and climate change awareness: A cross-sectional study from Turkey

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, and climate change awareness in adults.

METHODS

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 1797 adults ages 19-65 y. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, and climate change awareness were ascertained through a questionnaire.

RESULTS

The mean age of the individuals was 27.5 ± 11.76 y, and 50.5% of the participants were adherent to the Mediterranean diet. A statistically significant difference was found between individuals who did and did not adhere to the Mediterranean diet in terms of age, income status, total score and subscores on the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale, and subscores for information on climate change causes (P < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS) total score, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale total score and subscores, and the Climate Change Awareness Scale total score and subscores (P < 0.05). It was determined that sex, education level, and income status affected the Climate Change Awareness Scale total score (P < 0.05). It was determined that age, income status, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale total score, and the Climate Change Awareness Scale total score affected the MEDAS total score (P < 0.05). Also, it was determined that age, sex, education level, MEDAS total score, and Climate Change Awareness Scale total score affected the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale total score (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a significant effect of climate change awareness on sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Self-Selective Diets and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults 40 and Older: A Prospective Cohort Study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

The food system accounts for ∼ 40 % of human-generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Meanwhile, daily diet selection also impacts human nutrition status and health.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to use the alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) score to evaluate the quality of a low-GHG emission diet and the association with risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODS

A total of 41,659 healthy participants without MetS 40 y of age or older were selected from the Health Examinees Study, an ongoing cohort study in South Korea from 2004. A dietary GHG emissions database was compiled following a national project and literature review. MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program. The participants were grouped into quintiles based on 2,000  kcal -standardized daily diet-GHG emissions (Q1: the lowest energy-adjusted diet-GHG emissions). A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk for MetS at follow-up. The aMED score was used to assess the diet quality of the different diet-related GHG emission groups.

RESULTS

Females with lower energy-adjusted diet-related GHG emissions had significantly lower risks of developing MetS (p = 0.0043 ) than those with the highest energy-adjusted diet-related GHG emissions. In addition, the Q1 group, in comparison with the other groups, had a higher aMED score (3.02 for males and 3.00 for females), which indicated that the participants in this group had a diet that more closely matched the Mediterranean diet.

DISCUSSION

These findings provide a reference for dietary guidance and other policies aimed toward improving dietary intake and reducing diet-related GHG emissions in South Korea and worldwide. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12727.

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Dietary Choices as Determinants of Climate Change Understanding and Concern in Saudi Arabia

Climate change poses a global threat to public health. This study investigated the understanding of, and concern over, climate change in Saudi Arabia and examined the associations with sociodemographic characteristics and dietary choices. This cross-sectional study consisted of 280 participants recruited via an online survey. Of the study participants, 45% demonstrated a sufficient understanding of climate change, and 56% were highly concerned about climate change. Male sex, medium-high monthly income, high education, and governmental employees were determinants of sufficient understanding of and great concern over climate change. Participants who exhibited a high understanding of climate change score demonstrated significantly higher consumption of vegetables (3.47 ± 0.98) and vegetable oils (3.26 ± 1.07) than participants with a low understanding score (3.31 ± 0.96 and 3.00 ± 1.01, respectively) (p ≤ 0.01). Additionally, participants with higher concern of climate change scores exhibited lower consumption of red meat (p = 0.0001), poultry (p = 0.003), margarine (p = 0.02), and soy products (p = 0.04). The study revealed a poor understanding of, but great concern over, climate change. The intake of non-climate-friendly food was typically higher than that of climate-friendly food. These findings are critical for developing strategies to enhance awareness of climate change and encourage people to consume climate-friendly food to mitigate climate change and improve public health.

Children's Perceptions about Environmental Sustainability, Food, and Nutrition in Chile: A Qualitative Study

Food is inextricably linked to human health and environmental sustainability; however, very little is known about children’s perceptions of the concept of sustainability in the context of food choices. We aimed to explore the perceptions of Chilean schoolchildren about environmental sustainability, food, and nutrition. Eight online focus groups were conducted with boys and girls aged 8–9 (n = 30). Questions related to environmental sustainability, pocket money, and food characteristics such as price, front-of-package (FOP) warning label, and eco-labels were included. Data analysis was conducted using ATLAS.ti through a hybrid content analysis approach. Five central themes were identified: (1) children’s favorite snacks, (2) knowledge of sustainability, (3) sustainability and eco-labels use, (4) healthfulness of food products, and (5) pocket money and food prices. Most children were not aware of the meaning of “environmental sustainability”, but the concept was understood when it was explained in plain language. Participants showed awareness about the environmental impact of their eating behavior, had a positive perception of eco-labels, and identified food with fewer warning labels as “better” options. Results indicate that children understand the concept of sustainability in food if it is communicated clearly, and that eco-labels may be an effective tool in that effort.

Can Climate Change Awareness Predict Pro-Environmental Practices in Restaurants? Comparing High and Low Dining Expenditure

The purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of what makes consumers reduce waste in order to address climate change, particularly when dining out. To accomplish this goal, this research constructs an extended theory of planned behavior model, using four main constructs of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention and incorporating climate change awareness and mitigation pursuing actions, anticipated pride and guilt, and high and low levels of dining expenses. An online survey was conducted of 482 respondents aged 20 years old or over who had dined in restaurants in the previous month in 2019. A partial least squares-structural (PLS) equation modeling analysis has been utilized with multi-group analysis. Results reveal that climate change awareness has significant effects on attitude and behavior intention, and climate change mitigation pursuing actions positively influence attitude and behavioral intention to reduce waste. Consumers’ anticipated emotions lead to their behavioral intention. Diners’ behavioral intention to reduce waste is significantly influenced by their attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on waste reduction in restaurants. The levels of dining expenses significantly moderate seven out of nine hypotheses. Research on consumers’ waste reduction in relation to climate change is not sufficiently conducted in the foodservice sector. Using an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand diner behavior related to waste reduction and climate change, this study therefore makes an important contribution to improving sustainability in foodservices, especially in the Asian context.

Healthy and sustainable diet and physical activity: the rationale for and experiences from developing a combined summary score

Aims: First, to describe the rationale for developing a combined summary score, the Healthy and Sustainable Dietary and Physical Activity habits (HSDPA) score, incorporating four selected dietary and physical activity aspects: (a) the New Nordic Diet, (b) local and sustainable foods, (c) active transportation and (d) non-exercise outdoor activities. Secondly, to describe the experiences from constructing the HSDPA score. Methods: Relevant literature covering the four aspects of interest was reviewed to secure a well-grounded rationale and a theory-based approach. To measure compliance with such a broad approach targeting diet, physical activity, health and environmental sustainability, the HSDPA score was constructed including one subscale for each aspect. The four subscales were constructed from questionnaire items and were equally weighted, entailing a range from 0-10 points, hence the total HSDPA score ranged from 0-40 points. Results: In retrospect, we believe that the rationale for creating the HSDPA score is reasonable. Still, emphasizing fewer, but the most relevant aspects, such as reduced meat consumption and active transportation, may represent a more functional solution than the broad approach suggested herein, both for promoting public health and environmental sustainability, and for developing a feasible measurement tool. Conclusions: Our experiences illustrate the importance of methodological perspectives and scrutiny related to both the development and testing of complex summary scores. Nevertheless, we think that combined summary scores could be applicable for use within epidemiological studies and for measuring the effects of interventions, if accounting for the methodological limitations as far as possible.