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Current status and future trends in world nutrition and hunger |
R. MARTORELL, Dept. of International Health, Emory Univ., 1380 S. Oxford Rd., Grace Crum Rollins Bldg., Atlanta, GA 30322 The 1990 World Summit for Children set a number of nutrition goals to be achieved by developing countries by the year 2000. Included were the reduction of severe and moderate malnutrition in under-five children by half of 1990 levels, reduction of iron deficiency anemia in women by one third of the 1990 levels, and virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and its consequences, including blindness. The extent of child malnutrition decreased by only 17% over the 1990s, representing a reduction in the number of affected children from 177 to 150 million. IDD has declined rapidly due to iodized salt introduction; expanding programs of supplementation and fortification with vitamin A have reduced VAD. Anemia rates remained unchanged. Progress has varied by region. In terms of child malnutrition, the Americas saw remarkable progress, Asia improved modestly, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) stagnated. Despite progress, child malnutrition is still common, affecting 1 in 4 children in 2000. The forecast is for continued, improving trends in all regions except SSA. As malnutrition is conquered, albeit slowly, new threats have appeared. Obesity among adults, particularly women, and among school children is now common in much of the developing world except for South Asia and SSA. Rates of change are alarming; WHO has labeled the emergence of obesity and related chronic diseases an "epidemic". Changes in diet, particularly greater consumption of vegetable oils, and declines in physical activity, both work and leisure-related, are the probable causes. In summary, the problems of yesterday remain while a new epidemic of obesity and related chronic diseases unfolds.
Session 21, How will we feed the world in 2025?
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