Challenges in ameliorating hunger while preventing obesity

Abstract

In The Lancet, Gretchen Stevens and colleagues use innovative techniques to examine trends in child nutrition in 141 countries. 1 Stevens GA Finucane MM Paciorek CJ et al. on behalf of Nutrition Impact Model Study Group (Child Growth)Trends in mild, moderate, and severe stunting and underweight, and progress towards MDG 1 in 141 developing countries: a systematic analysis of population representative data. Lancet. 2012; (published online July 5.)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60647-3 Google Scholar Despite substantial reductions in the prevalence of moderate and severe stunting and underweight in developing countries, about 30% of children younger than 5 years were moderately or severely stunted and 19% were moderately or severely underweight in 2011. For all countries, the predicted likelihood of achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving hunger by 2015 was estimated at less than 5%. However, striking heterogeneity was noted between countries and regions; 61 of 141 countries had more than a 50% chance of reaching the MDG goal and four (Chile, China, Mexico, and Brazil) were almost certain to achieve the goal. Trends in mild, moderate, and severe stunting and underweight, and progress towards MDG 1 in 141 developing countries: a systematic analysis of population representative dataMacroeconomic shocks, structural adjustment, and trade policy reforms in the 1980s and 1990s might have been responsible for worsening child nutritional status in sub-Saharan Africa. Further progress in the improvement of children's growth and nutrition needs equitable economic growth and investment in pro-poor food and primary care programmes, especially relevant in the context of the global economic crisis. Full-Text PDF Open Access