Abstract

Obesity is a chronic non-communicable condition. Rates of obesity have risen globally over the last few decades, like the rates of comorbidities of obesity, such as the clustering of metabolic risk factors, as seen in the condition diabesity. Given the high prevalence and widespread nature of these chronic conditions, much effort has been put towards lifestyle interventions, many of which target weight loss or prevention of weight gain. Reducing weight and body fat remains a highly effective treatment for mitigating the adverse health effects of obesity and reducing the risk of related chronic diseases. There is a burgeoning cache of evidence suggesting that certain macro and micronutrient intake, and diet composition and patterns may be more or less effective at preventing diabesity. Several dietary interventions, such as the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet, have proven to reduce obesity and the risk or severity of obesity-related conditions such as insulin resistance, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. While these dietary patterns have similar elements to those of the recommendations for general healthy eating, minor adjustments could be made to the current guidelines to optimize the prevention of diabesity. Alternatively, a secondary set of dietary information could be developed, specifically addressing dietary requirements for people living with obesity and diabetes. This chapter will discuss current dietary and nutritional guidelines, highlight similarities and differences between countries and resources, and identify discrepancies and agreements between current guidelines in nutritional epidemiology literature.