Dietary Choices Impact Environment and Human Health in China

Strategic Insights -

Researchers in Qingdao, People's Republic of China, have explored the relationship between dietary choices and their impact on the environment and human health. Using data from the China Statistical Yearbook and the Diabetes Epidemiological Survey, they quantified the country's dietary ecological footprint per capita and greenhouse gas emissions at the provincial level, with a focus on the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers found a strong link between the prevalence of diabetes and increased consumption of meat, oil, and cereal, as well as a decrease in the consumption of vegetables, fruits, eggs, and milk.
  • The dietary ecological footprint per capita (EFP) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions peaked among the prediabetes group, which had a prevalence of 32.7%-34.9%, and then decreased significantly with the increasing prevalence of prediabetes.
  • Groups with a lower prevalence of diabetes showed lower dietary EFP, indicating a healthier diet and reduced environmental impact.
  • The study's findings suggest that people's concern for their health can drive them to pursue a healthier diet, which in turn promotes environmental sustainability.
  • The researchers highlighted the importance of reshaping dietary patterns to effectively reduce environmental and health impacts.
  • Shandong University's research was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China, the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province, and the Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province.

Statistics:

  • The prevalence of prediabetes in the study's sample ranged from 32.7% to 34.9%.
  • The dietary ecological footprint per capita (EFP) increased with the prevalence of diabetes, peaking at the prediabetes group.
  • The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions also increased with the prevalence of diabetes, peaking at the prediabetes group.
  • The study's findings suggest a strong link between dietary choices and environmental degradation, highlighting the need for sustainability-driven dietary patterns.

Sources:

  • Cao, X., et al. (2025). Associations across food consumption, diabetes prevalence, and the environmental impacts: Evidence from China. PLOS One, 20(10).
  • National Social Science Fund of China
  • Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
  • Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province
  • PLOS One. Public Library Science. 1160 Battery Street, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA.
  • Shandong University, School of Political Science and Public Administration, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.