Dessertification, the process by which fertile land becomes dessert, is now thought to be the major culprit behind obesity, a study has found.

As global temperatures rise and the human population expands, more of the planet is vulnerable to dessertification.

The process by which a relatively inedible area of land becomes dessert, typically turning its bodies of water into honey, and its vegetation into varieties of cookies, pies, and cakes, has perplexed scientists for decades.

The latest study, published by 14 researchers from seven countries, describes dessertification as the “the greatest environmental challenge of our time”, and warns it may be wreaking havoc on people’s diets worldwide.

Volunteers are battling to keep the dessert at bay. With vast swaths of countryside turning to dessert, the race is on to keep the nectarous danger contained. “I can only eat so much chocolate fudge cake in a day,” one volunteer said. The volunteer efforts have not helped with the obesity epidemic.

There are also geopolitical implications. The authors cite evidence of a strong association between dessertification and instability, and up to 47% rise in violent conflict. In one incident, a local resident drove through a strawberry tart on her morning commute. “It appeared out of nowhere,” she said. “And it was delicious. It threw off my whole day.” Others tried to get to the tart, but she fought them off.

“This is extremely urgent,” said a co-author of the study. “If we don’t change our lifestyles and consumption habits, sooner or later we are going to eat through this planet. Looking for another one is not an option, and it may not taste as good.”