16 June 2016
Global Nutrition Report Reveals Rising Malnutrition in All Countries
story highlights

13 June 2016: The 2016 Global Nutrition Report (GNR 2016) shows that malnutrition, including both undernutrition and adult overweight and obesity, is increasing in every country around the world and increasingly becoming a key driver of disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular illness.

The Report calls on decision makers around the world to strengthen commitments to tackle all forms of malnutrition, including increasing funding and improving budget allocations, improving data collection and analysis, investing in evidence-based solutions, and integrating the prevention and control of diabetes and obesity in programmes addressing undernutrition.

promise_to_impact13 June 2016: The 2016 Global Nutrition Report (GNR 2016) shows that malnutrition, including both undernutrition and adult overweight and obesity, is increasing in every country around the world and increasingly becoming a key driver of disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular illness. The Report calls on decision makers around the world to strengthen commitments to tackle all forms of malnutrition, including increasing funding and improving budget allocations, improving data collection and analysis, investing in evidence-based solutions, and integrating the prevention and control of diabetes and obesity in programmes addressing undernutrition.

Titled ‘From Promise to Impact: Ending Malnutrition by 2030,’ the third GNR takes stock of progress with regard to international targets on malnutrition, including the Global Nutrition Targets 2025 adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2013 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture). Under target 2.2, SDG 2 calls on countries to “by 2030 end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.”

The report finds that malnutrition now affects one in three persons globally, and that 44% of the 56 countries for which data were available experience serious levels of undernutrition and adult overweight and obesity. Overall, the report concludes that progress towards achieving the goal to fight all forms of malnutrition is insufficient.

The GNR further shows that malnutrition is the most important factor contributing to the global burden of disease and driving up individual and societal healthcare costs. While many countries are on course to meet targets on stunting, wasting, and overweight among children under the age of five, and exclusive breastfeeding, most countries are off track with regard to reducing anemia in women and adult overweight and obesity. The report also finds that nutrition is central to achieving at least 12 of the 17 SDGs as it provides a “platform for progress in health, education, employment, female empowerment and poverty and inequality reduction.” Furthermore, GNR 2016 shows that: current commitments are insufficient, in particular with regard to spending; countries that set targets that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) achieve better results; and additional data and knowledge are required to maximize investments.

The report includes recommendations and calls for action encouraging policy makers to: make SMART commitments to reduce malnutrition; increase investments in proven nutrition programs and ensure that budgets in agriculture, education, food systems, health systems, social protection and water, sanitation and hygiene allocate appropriate resources to reducing malnutrition; collect necessary data including on spending, investments and their impact; invest in proven, science-based nutrition programs as well as research to fill knowledge gaps; and ensure integrated and coherent policies and programs that tackle all forms of malnutrition, in particular prevention of overweight and obesity in programs to reduce undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries.

The Global Nutrition Report is prepared by an independent international expert group with guidance of a stakeholder group. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the process is organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a member of the CGIAR Consortium, supported by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. [GNR Press Release] [IFPRI Press Release] [Publication: From Promise to Impact: Ending Malnutrition by 2030 – Global Nutrition Report 2016] [WHO Global Nutrition Targets 2025]

Guardar

Guardar

related posts