Environmental impact of food consumption and sociodemographic factors in Northern Norway through an intersectional lens: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Food systems contribute significantly to environmental degradation. The interplay of sociodemographic factors influences food choices and thus, the environmental impacts of diet. This study investigated the environmental impact of food consumption in Northern Norway, focusing on intersectional dynamics.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed using data from the Tromsø Study. The diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and the environmental impacts of the diet were estimated for greenhouse gas emissions, water use, land use, acidification, and eutrophication using a Norwegian life cycle analysis food database. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the associations with sociodemographic variables using three-way interactions with sex, education, and income in an inter-categorical intersectionality framework. Pairwise contrasts were calculated to assess the mean differences between interacting groups.

Results: The typical diet in Northern Norway substantially impacts the environment, with dairy products being the primary contributor. When controlling for energy intake, age was inversely linked to the environmental impact, whereas a higher body mass index corresponded to a greater environmental impact. No clear association with sex was observed, and the associations among environmental impact, education, and income varied. Including intersectional analyses did not significantly improve the explanatory power of the models. Although a few pairwise comparisons were statistically significant, the effect sizes were generally small.

Conclusion: The study underscores the complex dynamics of dietary habits and sociodemographic factors in shaping the environmental impact of food consumption. The findings are important to develop approaches that balance sustainability perspectives and the diverse needs of the population in Northern Norway.