A major review in Frontiers in Science highlights how tackling unsustainable food systems—reflected by our changing food environment—is urgent for both health and climate.
In a new Frontiers in Science lead article , Prof Jeff Holly , Prof Paul Behrens , Prof Katherine Samaras , and Prof Jason C G Halford examine how energy-dense, ultra-processed food (UPF)-dominated diets and industrial food systems drive both rising obesity and the climate crisis. The article also highlights why reliance on medical and surgical treatments alone cannot curb obesity at the population level, and why food system transformation is essential for long-term, sustained health outcomes.
Join the authors at our Frontiers in Science Deep Dive webinar on 5 March 2026, 11:00–12:30 CET , as they explore evidence-based strategies to tackle unsustainable industrial food systems that promote overconsumption and drive environmental pressures. These include shifting consumption toward minimally processed, high-fiber, plant-rich foods and using economic arguments, interdisciplinary scientific advocacy, and coalition building to overcome political and commercial barriers to change.
Obesity and climate change: co-crises with common solutions | 5 March 2026 | Register
Frontiers in Science Deep Dive sessions bring researchers, policy experts, and innovators together from around the world to discuss a specific area of transformational science published in Frontiers' flagship, multidisciplinary journal, Frontiers in Science, and explore next steps for the field.