Impacts of temperature and solar radiation changes in northern Europe on key population health behaviors: a scoping review of reviews

Abstract

Aim: Climate change threatens health directly as well as indirectly through impacts on health-related behaviors. Physical activity, nutrition and sleep are key health-related behaviors for population health. We aimed at elucidating the impacts of climate change which emerge gradually on these three key health-related behaviors, particularly focusing on scenarios and projections relevant to people living in the northern Europe. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search in three different databases in January 2023 to identify English language review articles summarizing the effects of climate change on either physical activity, nutrition, sleep, or their combination. Results: We identified 15 review articles on the topic. Data on climate change impacts on nutrition and sleep were sparse, and those on physical activity were heterogeneous. The climate in northern Europe will become warmer and sunnier in summer as well as warmer and darker in winter, which will probably increase the level of physical activity, but decrease the consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as increase the occurrence of sleep disturbances in a population. Conclusions: The anticipated changes in physical activity, nutrition and sleep driven by climate change influence population health and call for grass-roots action plans for adaptation.