The Scary Link Between Climate Change And Obesity

When you hear about the effects of climate change, it usually applies to extreme temperature swings, melting icebergs and other environmental damage. But did you know it is also threatening the nutritional integrity of our food supply? And that can spell disaster for anyone trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

When you hear about the effects of climate change, it usually applies to extreme temperature swings, melting icebergs and other environmental damage. But did you know it is also threatening the nutritional integrity of our food supply? And that can spell disaster for anyone trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

A recent research report issued by the US Global Change Research Program has said that the earth’s increasing levels of CO2 (carbon dioxide) are expected to strip away the protein and essential micronutrients from our crops, making them disproportionately high in empty-calorie carbohydrates. The effect will essentially turn our healthy food supply into acres of junk food by the year 2100.

If this happens, not only will we be losing the muscle-building, fat-burning protein power of food, but we will have to eat more of it to achieve sufficient nutritional levels. This means consuming more calories, which of course leads to greater weight gain.

While the researchers of the study believe the greatest amount of damage could occur in 2100, they said the rate of CO2 increase has not happened in a linear fashion. Most of the changes have occurred in the last couple of decades. Should trends continue, we could see true damage to our crops sooner than the year 2100.

So is it too late? The good news is that while CO2 levels are possibly the highest we have ever experienced in the history of mankind, the nutritional concentration of our plants and crops remain largely intact. This means that all of the guidance about weight loss-friendly foods remains solid as well. There is also testing underway to develop new farming technics to help food withstand the effects of higher CO2 levels. And fortunately in the last 10 years there has been an increased focus on environmental conservation and activism, returning the world to a healthier state of ‘green.’

If we all do our part to reduce what is known as our “carbon footprint,” we will have a better shot at protecting the nutrition in our plant-based foods. That’s just as important for you today as you pursue your weight loss goals as it is for future generations. Check out these great tips on how you can easily go green! https://www.carbonfund.org/reduce