Global nutrition policy review: What does it take to scale up nutrition action?

World Health Organization
WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Published online: 2013

Abstract / Resumen:
Malnutrition is found worldwide and is linked, either directly or indirectly, to major causes of death and disability. More than one third of all child deaths are attributable to under-nutrition. Many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, have not achieved significant reductions in underweight, stunting or vitamin and mineral malnutrition. Wasting is still widespread, and essential infant and young child feeding practices are not improving in those low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, the rates of overweight and obesity are rising. The differences in rates of change of these indicators over time and by region indicate wide variation in the factors that are causing malnutrition in all its forms. Regional and sub-regional data show that a rise in child overweight is not necessarily associated with a fall in underweight or stunting. Nutrition policies and strategies must therefore be strengthened to address the growing double burden of malnutrition, that is, undernutrition, and obesity and diet-related NCDs, and to guide the scaling-up of effective nutrition actions to address this burden. This Global Nutrition Policy Review is based on a questionnaire survey conducted during 2009–2010, in which 119 WHO Member States and 4 territories participated.
Content
Executive summary
1. Background
2. Current global nutrition challenges
Malnutrition and causes of death and disability
Child malnutrition
Adult overweight and obesity
Vitamin and mineral malnutrition
Iron deficiency and anaemia
Vitamin A deficiency
Iodine deficiency
Infant and young child feeding
Undernourishment
3. Methods and findings of the Global Nutrition Policy Review
4. Conclusions
5. The way forward
References

Keywords / Palabras clave: Malnutrition; under-nutrition; underweight; child feeding; obesity; Nutrition policies; Strategies

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