Objectives: Nutrition transition (NT) studies are yet to benefit from domains beyond the theoretical framework (TF). This gap is significant as health challenges have evolved with time. This paper aims to review the expanding scope of NT research.
Methods: NT is described within the TF of the five patterns viz, collecting food, famine, receding famine, degenerative diseases, and behavior change resulting from socioeconomic development. These domains are reviewed in the context of emerging factors, the need for novel tools, to assess changing economics, food insecurity, chronic diseases including mental health, receding traditional diets, context-specific physical activity, and climate change as drivers of NT.
Results: There is a need for greater discussion on the expanding scope of the TF to include the following:
- Food systems, supply chain, testing its resilience employing technology, the role of the food industry, food safety, and regulations.
- Extending from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Percapita Income (PCI) to the ‘economics of time’ that impacts food choices.
- Economy of time and fading traditional diets, and awareness of the nutritional value of traditional foods.
- While patterns 2-4 describe moving from deficiency diseases to NCDs, more studies on mental health and its association with nutrition are warranted.
- Leisure physical activity reduces chronic diseases and the risk of mortality. Populations engaged in physically productive work require setting and gender-specific measurements beyond leisure activities.
- Climate change needs to be explored from its impact on nutrition, and the environment through the carbon footprint, from a bidirectional position.
Conclusions: Research and education in these domains through the lens of NT is a critical need. Overlooking expanding needs can curtail the unraveling of significant associations. An effort to recognize new areas can serve as a foundation for further research, practice, and policy.
