Impacto da adoção de dietas saudáveis e sustentáveis sobre o custo da alimentação: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

Introduction: Adequate food consumption is a central factor in maintaining good health. Furthermore, food consumption has the potential to also affect planetary health. In this scenario, the debate surrounding healthy and sustainable diets is gaining increasing prominence, without clear clarity on the impact of their adoption on food costs. Objective: This systematic review aims to investigate the impact of the cost of adopting healthy and sustainable diets compared to current diets worldwide. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted in scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, and the Virtual Health Library, using terms related to cost, healthy diets, sustainability, and various associated indicators. Studies that addressed the cost and sustainability of diets in different geographic and population contexts were included. Results: The total search resulted in 1999 articles, and after the exclusion of studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 22 articles were included in this systematic review. A trend was observed that diets based on fresh and minimally processed foods may be more economically accessible than diets based on animal-derived and ultra-processed foods, especially in high-income countries. Additionally, evidence indicated that the adoption of more sustainable dietary patterns may contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. Conclusion: Despite methodological heterogeneity in the studies, it was possible to conclude that healthy and sustainable diets are generally accessible, not resulting in a significant increase in costs compared to current dietary patterns.