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Magkos F, Tetens I, Bügel SG, Felby C, Schacht SR, Hill JO, Ravussin E, Astrup A. A Perspective on the Transition to Plant-Based Diets: a Diet Change May Attenuate Climate Change, but Can It Also Attenuate Obesity and Chronic Disease Risk? Adv Nutr 2020; 11:1-9. [PMID: 31504086 PMCID: PMC7442415 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmz090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Current dietary guidelines advocate more plant-based, sustainable diets on the basis of scientific evidence about diet-health relations but also to address environmental concerns. Here, we critically review the effects of plant-based diets on the prevalence of obesity and other health outcomes. Plant-based diets per se have limited efficacy for the prevention and treatment of obesity, but most have beneficial effects in terms of chronic disease risk. However, with the considerable possibilities of translating plant-based diets into various types of dietary patterns, our analysis suggests that potential adverse health effects should also be considered in relation to vulnerable groups of the population. A transition to more plant-based diets may exert beneficial effects on the environment, but is unlikely to affect obesity, and may also have adverse health effects if this change is made without careful consideration of the nutritional needs of the individual relative to the adequacy of the dietary intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faidon Magkos
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark,Address correspondence to FM (E-mail: )
| | - Inge Tetens
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Gjedsted Bügel
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Felby
- Section for Forest, Nature, and Biomass, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Simon Rønnow Schacht
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - James O Hill
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Eric Ravussin
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Arne Astrup
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Magkos F, Tetens I, Bügel SG, Felby C, Schacht SR, Hill JO, Ravussin E, Astrup A. The Environmental Foodprint of Obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2020; 28:73-79. [PMID: 31858737 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) are linked to global warming and adverse climate changes. Meeting the needs of the increasing number of people on the planet presents a challenge for reducing total GHG burden. A further challenge may be the size of the average person on the planet and the increasing number of people with excess body weight. We used data on GHG emissions from various sources and estimated that obesity is associated with ~20% greater GHG emissions compared with the normal-weight state. On a global scale, obesity contributes to an extra GHG emissions of ~49 megatons per year of CO2 equivalent (CO2 eq) from oxidative metabolism due to greater metabolic demands, ~361 megatons per year of CO2 eq from food production processes due to increased food intake, and ~290 megatons per year of CO2 eq from automobile and air transportation due to greater body weight. Therefore, the total impact of obesity may be extra emissions of ~700 megatons per year of CO2 eq, which is about 1.6% of worldwide GHG emissions. Inasmuch as obesity is an important contributor to global GHG burden, strategies to reduce its prevalence should prioritize efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Accordingly, reducing obesity may have considerable benefits for both public health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faidon Magkos
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inge Tetens
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Gjedsted Bügel
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Felby
- Section for Forest, Nature and Biomass, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Simon Rønnow Schacht
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - James O Hill
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Eric Ravussin
- Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Arne Astrup
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Schacht SR, Lind MV, Mertz KH, Bülow J, Bechshøft R, Højfeldt G, Schucany A, Hjulmand M, Sidoli C, Andersen SB, Jensen M, Reitelseder S, Holm L, Tetens I. Development of a Mobility Diet Score (MDS) and Associations With Bone Mineral Density and Muscle Function in Older Adults. Front Nutr 2019; 6:114. [PMID: 31552255 PMCID: PMC6738326 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2019.00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle function is associated with increased risk of multiple health related issues. Diet may play a role in sustaining BMD and muscle function throughout old age, but much is still to be learned with regards to which specific food groups and dietary patterns that are important for such outcomes. The aim of the current study was to identify food groups important for both BMD and muscle function. Methods: A narrative review was performed on studies published on dietary patterns and their association with BMD and muscle function, respectively. Based on these findings, two dietary indices were constructed characterizing food groups associated with BMD and muscle function, respectively. Associations between adherence to these indices and BMD and muscle function were then investigated in a population of older community-dwelling Danes. Food groups found to be associated with both BMD and muscle function in our study population were suggested for inclusion into a common dietary index named the Mobility Diet Score. Results: In contrast to previous studies, adherence to a dietary index based on foods previously linked to BMD could not be established as important for BMD in our study population of 184 older individuals (53.3% men). We found that adhering to a dietary index characterized by higher intakes of whole grains, dairy products, fish, legumes, nuts, fruit, and vegetables is associated with faster 400 m walking speeds and an increased number of chair stands measured over a 30 s time period. Since no food group could be established as important for both BMD and muscle function in our study population, a Mobility Diet Score could not be established. However, based on our narrative review, the food groups commonly associated with improved BMD and muscle function are similar. Conclusion: Adherence to a dietary index characterized by high intakes of whole grains, dairy products, fish, legumes, nuts, fruit, and vegetables was not found to be associated with BMD in a group of community-dwelling older Danes. However, our results indicate that the adherence to such foods could be important in sustaining physical function in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Rønnow Schacht
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Vitality - Centre for Good Older Lives, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mads Vendelbo Lind
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Vitality - Centre for Good Older Lives, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kenneth Hudlebusch Mertz
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Bülow
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Bechshøft
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Grith Højfeldt
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aide Schucany
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Hjulmand
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Chiara Sidoli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Søren Binder Andersen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Jensen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Reitelseder
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Holm
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Inge Tetens
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Vitality - Centre for Good Older Lives, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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