Research Article // Integrating Health in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A Comprehensive Review of Interdependencies, Challenges, and Future Research Opportunities
By Albatayneh et al. This review reconceptualizes the WEF nexus by integrating health as a core, dynamic component, demonstrating that public health is a critical driver of resilience, equity, and sustainable resource governance.
Introduction
The WEF Nexus has become a crucial framework for understanding resource interdependencies, nevertheless its integration with health remains underexplored. This review paper examines the current literature in the WEFH Nexus, emphasizing the complex relationships between resource security and public health outcomes. Through a systematic literature review, the existing research trends, methodological approaches, and regional disparities in WEFH studies are analyzed. While health is an inherent component of resource systems, it is often treated as an externality rather than a central determinant. The review revealed that out of 1175 research articles screened, only 21 discussed WEFH as an integrated nexus. Hence, there is a crucial need for a comprehensive Water, Energy, Food, and Health research. The paper proposes a conceptual WEFH integration that positions health as both an outcome and a driver of sustainable resource management based on epidemiological evidence. By analyzing health metrics implicit to the WEF nexus, the study provides insights for researchers and policymakers seeking to develop holistic strategies for resilience and equity in resource governance.
Published
10 December 2025
In
By
Current Environmental Health Reports