Using a biocultural approach to examine migration/globalization, diet quality, and energy balance

•Globalization/migration influence diet quality, energy balance, and dietary recommendations.•Globalization is linked with the nutrition transition, and the adoption of a more Western diet.•The impact of globalization/migration on dietary change varies across settings and populations.•New conceptual models are needed to examine transnational processes that shape diet.•Critical biocultural approaches can be used to examine globalization/migration and diet change.

The aim of this paper is to examine the role and impact that globalization and migration (e.g., intra-/intercontinental, urban/rural, and circular) have had on diet patterns, diet quality, and energy balance as reported on in the literature during the last 20 years. Published literature from the fields of anthropology, public health, nutrition, and other disciplines (e.g., economics) was collected and reviewed. In addition, case studies from the authors' own research are presented in order to elaborate on key points and dietary trends identified in the literature. While this review is not intended to be comprehensive, the findings suggest that the effects of migration and globalization on diet quality and energy balance are neither lineal nor direct, and that the role of social and physical environments, culture, social organization, and technology must be taken into account to better understand this relationship. Moreover, concepts such as acculturation and the nutrition transition do not necessarily explain or adequately describe all of the global processes that shape diet quality and energy balance. Theories from nutritional anthropology and critical bio-cultural medical anthropology are used to tease out some of these complex interrelationships.