Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2025 Jan 17:12:1432109.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1432109. eCollection 2024.

Body composition and CO2 dietary emissions

Silvia García  1   2   3 , Margalida Monserrat-Mesquida  1   2   3 , Sebastián Mas-Fontao  1   4 , Esther Cuadrado-Soto  1   5 , María Ortiz-Ramos  6 , Pilar Matía-Martín  6   7 , Lidia Daimiel  1   5   8 , Clotilde Vázquez  1   4 , Josep A Tur  1   2   3 , Cristina Bouzas  1   2   3
Affiliations
Observational Study

Body composition and CO2 dietary emissions

Silvia García et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The amount and quality of foods consumed not only impact on individual health, as reflected in body composition, but they could influence on greenhouse gas emissions and then, on environment.

Aim: This study aims to assess the relationship between the body composition and the CO2 emissions resulting from the dietary choices of an adult population.

Design: A cross-sectional study on baseline data from 778 participants aged 55-75 years old, with metabolic syndrome (MetS) as part of the PREDIMED-Plus study.

Methods: Food intake was registered using a validated semi quantitative 143-item food frequency questionnaire. The amount of CO2 emitted was calculated using data from the Agribalyse® 3.0.1 database. Anthropometry (body weight, height, and waist, and hip circumference, and body mass index) was determined by usual measurements, and body composition (fat mass, visceral fat, muscular mass, fat free mass, and total body water) were assessed by bioimpedance.

Results: CO2 emissions were linearly and positively associated with weight, waist circumference, visceral fat, fat free mass, total body water and energy intake.

Conclusion: Body composition is associated with dietary CO2 emissions. The higher total body water, fat free mass, and body weight, the higher the dietary CO2 emissions were, following a linear relationship.

Clinical trial registration: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870, ISRCTN89898870.

Keywords: CO2 emissions; anthropometry; body composition; environment; sustainable diets.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of eligibility of participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scatter plot graphics and regression lines of the total CO2 emissions and weight, waist circumference, fat free mass, total body water, visceral fat, and energy intake.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. United Nations (UN) . WMO: Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere reach yet another high. New York, USA: UN; (2018).
    1. Leurent F. From food to foot: The energy and carbon flows of the human body at walking and cycling. (2022). Available at: https://hal.science/hal-03543183 [Accessed December 20, 2023].
    1. O’Malley K, Willits-Smith A, Rose D. Popular diets as selected by adults in the United States show wide variation in carbon footprints and diet quality. Am J Clin Nutr. (2023) 117:701–8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.01.009, PMID: - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Foley JA, Ramankutty N, Brauman KA, Cassidy ES, Gerber JS, Johnston M, et al. . Solutions for a cultivated planet. Nature. (2011) 478:337–42. doi: 10.1038/nature10452, PMID: - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gerber PJ, Steinfeld H, Henderson B, Mottet A, Opio C, Dijkman J, et al. . Tackling climate change through livestock–a global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2013).

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources