Eco-Nutrition and Systems-Based Practice: A Narrative Review.

Area of Science:

• Integrative nutrition science
• Ecological determinants of health
• Systems thinking in public health

Background:

• Nutrition-sensitive ill-health presents a complex, persistent global challenge.
• Systems thinking and systems-based practice (SBP) offer relational, contextual approaches.
• An integrative framework is needed to operationalize systems thinking for transformative change in nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and articulate the Eco-nutrition framework.
• To conceptualize food, nutrition, health, and wellbeing as products of interacting systems.
• To address the gap in operationalizing systems thinking for transformative nutrition practice.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review employing meta-narrative and hermeneutic approaches.
• Synthesis of the historical evolution of ecological thinking in nutrition.
• Literature searches including databases, citation chaining, and targeted searching for conceptual relevance.

Main Results:

• Eco-nutrition is an interconnected systems-within-systems approach grounded in biodiversity and intergenerational dynamics.
• It comprises biological ecologies, tangible systems, and meta-contextual domains.
• The framework reframes nutrition as SBP, enabling practitioners to recognize systemic influences, anticipate consequences, and build capacities.

Conclusions:

• Eco-nutrition provides a coherent, integrative approach for advancing SBP in nutrition.
• It identifies essential capabilities for future-ready nutrition professionals, including systems thinking and cultural responsiveness.
• Positions nutrition professionals as accountable systems stewards for the Anthropocene.