A Third of People Are Malnourished, Global Report Shows

16 Jun 2016 --- Malnutrition is sweeping the world, fueled by obesity as well as starvation, latest research from the WHO has suggested.

The 2016 Global Nutrition Report, which is an annual independent stock take of the state of the world's nutrition, said 44% of countries were now experiencing "very serious levels" of both under-nutrition and obesity.

More and more people are suffering from diet-related illnesses, such as stunting, anemia, heart disease and diabetes.

It means one in three people suffers from malnutrition in some form, according to the study of 129 countries.

Being malnourished is "the new normal", the report's authors said.

Malnutrition has traditionally been associated with children who are starving, have stunted growth and are prone to infection. These are still major problems, but progress has been made in this area.

The report's authors instead highlighted the "staggering global challenge" posed by rising obesity.

The increase is happening in every region of the world and in nearly every country, they said.

Hundreds of millions of people are malnourished because they are overweight, as well as having too much sugar, salt or cholesterol in their blood, the report said.

'Totally unacceptable'
Professor Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Center for Food Policy at City University London, who co-chaired the research, said the study was "redefining what the world thinks of as being malnourished".

"Malnutrition literally means bad nutrition – that's anyone who isn't adequately nourished.”

"You have outcomes like you are too thin, you're not growing fast enough… or it could mean that you're overweight or you have high blood sugar, which leads to diabetes," she said.

While many countries are on course to meet targets to reduce stunted growth and the number of underweight children, very few are making progress on tackling obesity and associated illnesses such as heart disease.

In fact, the report says, the number of children under five who are overweight is fast approaching the number who are underweight.

Senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute Lawrence Haddad said political engagement is key. Haddad, an economist who is co-chair of the study, said: "We now live in a world where being malnourished is the new normal.”

"It is a world that we must all claim as totally unacceptable."

The report calls for more money and political commitment to address the problem. It says for every US$1 (70p) spent on proven nutrition programs, US$16 (£11.25) worth of benefits ensue.