Exploring the Nexus between Food Systems and the Global Syndemic among Children under Five Years of Age through the Complex Systems Approach

Aline Martins de Carvalho (), Leandro Martin Totaro Garcia, Bárbara Hatzlhoffer Lourenço, Eliseu Verly Junior, Antônio Augusto Ferreira Carioca, Michelle Cristine Medeiros Jacob, Sávio Marcelino Gomes and Flávia Mori Sarti
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Aline Martins de Carvalho: School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
Leandro Martin Totaro Garcia: Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
Bárbara Hatzlhoffer Lourenço: School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
Eliseu Verly Junior: Institute of Social Medicine, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil
Antônio Augusto Ferreira Carioca: Nutrition Course, Health Sciences Center, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza 60811-905, Brazil
Michelle Cristine Medeiros Jacob: Biodiversity and Nutrition Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, Brazil
Sávio Marcelino Gomes: Department of Nutrition, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Flávia Mori Sarti: School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 03828-000, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: The intricate relationship between food systems and health outcomes, known as the food-nutrition-health nexus, intersects with environmental concerns. However, there’s still a literature gap in evaluating food systems alongside the global syndemic using the complex systems theory, especially concerning vulnerable populations like children. This research aimed to design a system dynamics model to advance a theoretical understanding of the connections between food systems and the global syndemic, particularly focusing on their impacts on children under five years of age. The framework was developed through a literature review and authors’ insights into the relationships between the food, health, and environmental components of the global syndemic among children. The conceptual model presented 17 factors, with 26 connections and 6 feedback loops, categorized into the following 5 groups: environmental, economic, school-related, family-related, and child-related. It delineated and elucidated mechanisms among the components of the global syndemic encompassing being overweight, suffering from undernutrition, and climate change. The findings unveiled potential interactions within food systems and health outcomes. Furthermore, the model integrated elements of the socio-ecological model by incorporating an external layer representing the environment and its natural resources. Consequently, the development of public policies and interventions should encompass environmental considerations to effectively tackle the complex challenges posed by the global syndemic.

Keywords: food system; global syndemic; climate change; overweight; malnutrition; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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