- A syndemic is defined as “the presence of two or more disease states that adversely interact with each other”.
- A Lancet Report states that the pandemics of obesity, under nutrition, and climate change are interlinked.
- It terms it as “global syndemic”.
- They represent as the paramount challenge for humans, the environment and our planet that presses the need for urgent action.
- Until now, undernutrition and obesity have been seen as polar opposites.
- But the report states that they are both driven by the same unhealthy, inequitable food systems, underpinned by the same political economy that is focused on economic growth.
- Few instances are-
- Climate change > extreme weather events > increased food insecurity >under nutrition
- Climate change > increased prices of fruit and vegetables > increasing consumption of processed foods > obesity
- Foetal and infant under nutrition > risk of adult obesity.
- Not a single country has reversed the obesity epidemic across the world.
