Ultra-processed foods, obesity, and the double burden of malnutrition: environmental, socioeconomic, and family-level influences on global health.

Abstract

There is a complex interplay of multiple factors across numerous domains underlying obesity and the emergence of the global health problem known as the double burden of malnutrition (DBM), where people are both obese and malnourished. Moreover, there is inequity in the burden of obesity and DBM, with higher rates of both in low-income communities, which comprise predominantly people of color (both in the U.S. and internationally). This article aims to provide an integrated overview of the different causes and effects of obesity and its impact on the family unit. Importantly, we examine broader influences, such as the environmentally unsustainable transnational food system, the rise of ultra-processed foods, and the structural barriers that keep communities of color at the highest risk for obesity and DBM. The review includes recommendations for future research, specifically how to implement more environmentally sustainable food systems at the community and family levels.