The Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs), set by the World Health Assembly to fight malnutrition in mothers and children, are not being met. A recent study in The Lancet shows slow progress from 2012 to 2021, with most countries unlikely to achieve the goals by 2030.
Here's a simplified explanation:
What are the Global Nutrition Targets (GNTs)? Worldwide goals to improve nutrition, including:
Reducing stunting (being too short for one's age) in children under 5 by 40%.
Reducing anemia (a condition with low red blood cells) in women of reproductive age by 50%.
Preventing an increase in childhood overweight.
What did the recent study find? Most countries are not making enough progress. By 2030, very few will meet the stunting target, and none are on track for low birthweight, anemia, or childhood overweight goals.
What is the situation with anemia in India? Anemia has been a persistent problem in India for two decades. While iron deficiency is often blamed, studies suggest it only accounts for about a third of cases. More research is needed to understand all the causes.
Why are diverse diets important? Getting a variety of nutrients is more effective than focusing on just one, like iron. The COVID lockdowns, which disrupted school meal programs, showed how important good nutrition is for preventing anemia in children.
How is nutritional status measured? Accurate measurement is important. Different blood tests (venous vs. capillary) can give different results. Also, the definitions of anemia might need to be adjusted depending on the specific context.
How can stunting and overnutrition be addressed?
Stunting: It's most important to focus on the first two years of a child's life. Giving too much food after this age can lead to overweight. Getting enough energy, especially from fats, is important for growth during these early years. New guidelines now recommend including oil in children's diets.
Overnutrition (Overweight): This is also a growing problem, even among children who are stunted. This means some children face the "double burden" of both undernutrition and overnutrition.
Key Facts:
GNTs aim for a 40% reduction in stunting.
Anemia in India has not improved in 20 years.
Diverse diets are key to preventing anemia.
Different methods of measuring anemia can give varying results.
New guidelines include oil in children's diets.
What needs to happen in the future? Policies need to be based on data and address both immediate nutritional needs and long-term health. A comprehensive and sustainable approach is needed to fight malnutrition in all its forms.
In simple terms: Global goals to improve nutrition in mothers and children are not being met. This is a serious problem that requires urgent action. In India, anemia remains a major issue, and more research is needed to understand its causes. It's important for people to eat a variety of healthy foods and for governments to create effective policies to address both undernutrition (not getting enough food) and overnutrition (eating too much unhealthy food)