Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Food Quality and Its Implications for the Nutritional Status and Health of College Going Girls

Abstract

  Climate change is profoundly impacting various facets of human existence, including food systems and nutritional outcomes. This abstract provides a comprehensive overview of the influence of climate change on food quality, dietary patterns, and nutritional status, along with its implications for human health and well-being. Climate change alters the availability, accessibility, and affordability of diverse food sources, thereby influencing dietary patterns. Shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns affect agricultural productivity, leading to changes in crop yields, nutritional content of crops affecting their protein, vitamin, and mineral levels and food availability. Additionally, climate-related extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and storms disrupt food production, distribution, and access, exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. Furthermore, climate change impacts the quality of aquatic resources, including fish and seafood, through ocean acidification, rising sea temperatures, and habitat loss. These changes can disrupt marine ecosystems and alter the composition of seafood, potentially impacting human health due to shifts in omega-3 fatty acid levels and the presence of contaminants. Changes in food quality due to climate change impact the nutritional composition of foods, including alterations in macronutrient and micronutrient content. Furthermore, climate-induced environmental stressors affect the quality and safety of food supplies, contributing to food borne illnesses and nutritional deficiencies. In conclusion, understanding the influence of   climate change on food quality and dietary patterns have significant implications for nutritional status and health outcomes. Vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and marginalized communities, are particularly at risk of experiencing adverse effects on their nutritional status due to climate change-induced disruptions in food systems.

Keyword-Climate change, Food, Nutritional, Crops