Climate change may be shaping not just the world around us, but what ends up on our plates.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change finds that higher daily temperatures are linked to increased consumption of added sugars in U.S. households and that the effect is strongest in lower-income and less-educated groups.
The research team analyzed household food purchase data between 2004 and 2019, covering nearly 500 million shopping trips. They found that on hotter days, households bought significantly more added sugars, often in the form of sweetened beverages, frozen desserts and processed snacks. The increase held true even after accounting for total calorie intake and demographic factors.
Modeling suggests that by the end of the century, daily added sugar consumption in the United States could rise by 1.5 to 3 grams per person solely due to hotter temperatures, with disadvantaged populations carrying the largest burden. While these increases may sound small, researchers note that cumulative effects over years could contribute to higher rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions.
The study highlights the intersection of climate change, nutrition and health equity. Communities already at higher risk of diet-related disease may face additional challenges as global temperatures continue to climb, underscoring the need for public health strategies that account for both environmental and dietary pressures.
The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.