The Influence of Cultural Dietary Patterns on Global Obesity Trends: A Comprehensive Review

ABSTRACT This study examines how cultural dietary patterns shape global obesity trends using a mixed‑methods design that integrates (i) a PRISMA‑guided systematic review and meta‑analysis (48 studies, 2005–2023), (ii) a cross‑cultural comparative analysis of 68 countries using WHO STEPS, DHS, and Global Dietary Database data, and (iii) a longitudinal assessment (1990–2022) of nutrition transition dynamics in low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs) using a Traditional Dietary Pattern Index (TDPI). We also analyze migrant acculturation and evaluate culturally tailored interventions and food policies. Traditional diets—high in whole foods and low in ultra‐processed foods (UPFs)—are associated with a 23% lower obesity risk (pooled OR ≈0.77), while a 10‑point decline in TDPI corresponds to an ≈0.9 percentage‑point rise in obesity prevalence in LMIC case studies. Indigenous/traditional diets are linked to lower BMI (≈22%–28%) relative to Westernized patterns, whereas acculturation toward UPF‑heavy diets among migrants raises obesity risk by ≈12%–14%. Culturally tailored interventions achieve ≈16% higher adherence and ≈0.6 kg/m 2 greater BMI reduction than standardized programs, and UPF‑related fiscal/retail policies reduce UPF purchases by ≈13% with early signals of population‑level BMI benefit. Findings present a multidimensional framework linking nutritional anthropology, social ecology, and cultural adaptation to explain how cultural food systems shape obesity. Policy implications include preserving traditional diets, implementing gender‐ and age‐sensitive programs, and curbing UPFs while improving access to culturally relevant foods. Limitations include reliance on secondary data and regional heterogeneity; future research should enhance causal inference and expand longitudinal coverage in understudied areas.