Food, nutrition, society and health

A century of research in nutrition and the shift from the biomolecular model to the systemic approach

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17398/3020-3635.3.139

Keywords:

Food systems, Nutrition science, Cultural coherence, Sustainability, Personalized nutrition

Abstract

The relationship between food, nutrition, society, and health has undergone profound transformations over time. From the holistic perspective of ancient traditions, where food was considered both sustenance and medicine, nutrition science evolved in the 20th century toward a reductionist focus on macronutrients and micronutrients to prevent deficiencies and acute diseases. However, the rise of processed foods, globalization, and lifestyle-related chronic diseases revealed the limitations of this nutrient-centric approach. Contemporary nutrition has shifted toward holistic, system-based perspectives that consider dietary patterns, cultural contexts, social determinants, and sustainability. Advances in nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and microbiome research highlight the complex interactions between diet, genes, and health. Meanwhile, behavioral nutrition and food environment research emphasize psychological, social, and environmental determinants of eating. Integrating these dimensions with technological tools such as artificial intelligence offers potential for personalized and population-level interventions. Ultimately, understanding food as a socially, culturally, and ecologically embedded system is essential for fostering health, sustainability, equity, and cultural coherence in the 21st century.

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Author Biography

  • David Conde-Caballero, University of Extremadura
    The International Commission on the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition (ICAF) is a Commission of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) The aims of the Commission are:

    Promote research on food and nutrition. Reason for promoting the publication of the journal Archives on Food, Culture and Nutrition. 
    Promote a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to food studies.
    Promote and support education and training on food and nutrition issues.
    Promote collaboration of anthropologists and other professionals interested in the subject with institutions and individual experts in related fields of study.
    Stimulate indigenous knowledge on food issues in developing countries.

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Published

2025-12-23

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Archives on Food, Culture and Nutrition

Section

Editorial

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Alicia Aguilar Martínez, David Conde-Caballero

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How to Cite

Food, nutrition, society and health: A century of research in nutrition and the shift from the biomolecular model to the systemic approach. (2025). Archives on Food, Culture and Nutrition (AFOCUN-ICAF) , 3(2), 139-158. https://doi.org/10.17398/3020-3635.3.139