Malnutrition and Related Non-Communicable Diseases

BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2018

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2015

Annual Review of Nutrition, 2002

▪ This paper is an attempt to discuss the problem of malnutrition within the framework of the global need for development and the challenges posed by the trends of neoliberalism and globalization. We argue that there is a two-way link between poverty and health in which nutrition plays an important role both as an active and as a mediating factor. Key concepts are exposed and expanded: (a) Development per se does not ensure better health; (b) unequal distribution of income has an independent effect on health indicators after adjusting for total income; (c) improving health can make an important contribution to reducing poverty; (d ) improving nutrition throughout the whole life course is an indispensable strategy for better health; (e) obesity has to be included amongst the most critical health problems, has different traits, and presents with different challenges in the developing world and in the industrialized countries.

Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2019

Food & Nutrition Journal, 2017

Global Crises, Global Solutions, 2004

Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2007

In the year 2000, multiple global health agencies and stakeholders convened and established eight tenets that, if followed, would make our world a vastly better place. These tenets are called the Millennium Development Goals. Most of these goals are either directly or indirectly related to nutrition. The United Nations has led an evaluation team to monitor and assess the progress toward achieving these goals until 2015. We are midway between when the goals were set and the year 2015. The first goal is to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger." Our greatest responsibility as nutrition professionals is to understand the ramifications of poverty, chronic hunger, and food insecurity. Food insecurity is complex, and the paradox is that not only can it lead to undernutrition and recurring hunger, but also to overnutrition, which can lead to overweight and obesity. It is estimated that by the year 2015 noncommunicable diseases associated with overnutrition will surpass undernutrition as the leading causes of death in low-income communities. Therefore, we need to take heed of the double burden of malnutrition caused by poverty, hunger, and food insecurity. Informing current practitioners, educators, and policymakers and passing this information on to future generations of nutrition students is of paramount importance.

2010 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 20 - June 23, 2010, 2010

Malnutrition is a general term for medical conditions caused by an inadequate diet and poor nutrition. Hunger and malnutrition are among the major difficulties confronting many countries around the world. Malnutrition can be caused by several factors, such as the sharp increase in population (current world population is approximately 6,800,000,000), poor distribution of foods, lack of access to highly nutritious foods, and most important, lack of knowledge about healthy diets. Malnutrition can lead to other problems, such as reduced school attendance, learning capacity, spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and it can have a negative effect on a nation's development. The objectives of this study are: 1) to review the occurrence of global malnutrition, and 2) to discuss potential solutions to this challenging problem. For example, over three billion people are affected with micronutrient malnutrition in the developing world. Lack of micronutrient components such as iodine, zinc, vitamin A and iron can lead to maternal mortality, diseases such as HIV, and other problems. Over 146 million children under five are underweight and children often die because of malnutrition. There are many challenges to overcome malnutrition, and to provide food security for people. UNICEF, WFS and other organizations are trying to help malnourished children by sending food aid, but this is not enough, and there are still many places in which food security does not exist. According to the FAO organization, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious foods to meet their dietary needs. So, to develop and distribute nutritious, widely available, low cost foods, which can be consumed by many people around the world is of great importance.

Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2015

Background: Since the inception of childhood nutritional programs in India, underweight has been taken to judge the nutritional status of children; but is it a true indicator of overall prevalence of malnutrition in a community? Objective: To estimate the overall prevalence of malnutrition by using Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) and to assess its usefulness over various conventional anthropometric indicators among under 5 children residing in Agra city. Materials and Methods: A crosssectional, community-based study was conducted among under 5 years age children, from June 2012 to July 2013 in an urban slum of Agra. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometry and clinical examination, and classified as per World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 Growth Standards and CIAF. Results: Of the 458 children studied, 42.8% were underweight, 41.9% had stunting, while 22.7% had wasting. However, 60.04% of children were found to be malnourished as per the CIAF. Unlike three conventional anthropometric indicators of malnutrition, CIAF was observed to have a much consistent association with morbidity like diarrhea episodes in past 3 months (odds ratio (OR) = 2.09), acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) episode in past 3 months (OR = 1.58), and any illness requiring hospitalization (OR = 1.29). Conclusion: The CIAF should supplement the conventional indices of malnourishment, to provide a single, aggregated figure of actual number of undernourished children in a given population.