Food and Nutrition Public Policies in Brazil: From Malnutrition to Obesity

Nutrition transition describes the shifts in dietary consumption and energy expenditure influenced by economic, demographic, and epidemiological changes at a population level. This phenomenon has been associated with rising obesity rates worldwide, especially in developed countries. In Brazil, the historical analysis of temporal trends between malnutrition and obesity characterized the nutrition transition in the country and interweaved it with the formulation and implementation of public food and nutrition policies. Such analysis is crucial for understanding certain principles in each context. Thus, this review contextualized the consolidation of obesity as a critical health and public policy issue in Brazil. Our review suggested that the country may still be at the initial stage of care for obesity, and more efforts are needed to contain the advance of the disease in Brazil.

Automated summary

Nutrition transition refers to the changes in dietary consumption and energy expenditure influenced by economic, demographic, and epidemiological changes. Analyzing the historical trends in Brazil, this review contextualized the nutrition transition and highlighted the need for more efforts to control obesity, as Brazil is still in the early stage of addressing this issue.