© Jean-Luc Luyssen
Headline
Health
MALNUTRITION: A SCOURGE THAT COULD AFFECT 2 BILLION PEOPLE
TODAY, ONE IN ELEVEN¹ PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE SUFFERING FROM HUNGER, AND ONE IN THREE ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE.² MALNUTRITION IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF AN INADEQUATE DIET AND HAS SERIOUS HEALTH REPERCUSSIONS. IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OUR SOCIETY FACES.
Malnutrition is present in every country in the world, and the United Nations predicts that it will affect 2 billion more people by 2050. Social inequalities and poverty have an impact on our relationship with food, but they are not the only causes of malnutrition.
DEFINITION OF MALNUTRITION
According to the WHO, malnutrition ‘refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients’.³ It is a nutritional state resulting from an imbalanced diet in terms of quantity and/or quality. Malnutrition therefore covers both undereating and overeating.
Undereating or undernutrition leads to weight loss, to the extent that the person is underweight, and stunted growth. Overeating, meanwhile, can lead to weight gain, obesity and non-communicable diseases linked to diet, such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes and some cancers.
In these two forms, malnutrition weakens the immune system, thus making the person vulnerable to other diseases, and can even lead to death. This is why it must be treated quickly; in all its forms, malnutrition has become the leading cause of poor health and death.
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Current malnutrition figures are worrying. Globally, 733 million people are suffering from malnutrition.⁴ Among them, there are 148 million children aged under 5 suffering from stunted growth.⁵ The situation is really concerning: 2.83 billion people do not have access to a healthy diet.⁶ The fight against malnutrition must be a priority for politicians so that we can finally put an end to this scourge.
What are the types and signs of undernutrition?
Undernutrition, a form of malnutrition, is manifested mainly by :
- Emaciation (or acute undernutrition): characterized by a low weight/height ratio, often a sign of recent and severe weight loss due to inadequate nutrition and/or infectious disease. Emaciated children are at increased risk of death, but the condition is treatable. Today, it is estimated that over 36 million children under the age of 5 suffer from acute malnutrition.
- Growth retardation: a low height/age ratio resulting from chronic or recurrent undernutrition, often associated with precarious socio-economic conditions, poor maternal health, frequent illness and/or inadequate nutrition during the first years of life. Stunted growth prevents children from reaching their physical and cognitive potential. Chronic malnutrition currently affects 149 million children worldwide.
- Underweight: a low weight/age ratio, reflecting either wasting, stunted growth, or both. This condition indicates undernutrition and requires special attention.
- Micronutrient deficiencies: insufficient intake of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iodine, vitamin A and iron. These deficiencies represent a major threat to health and development, particularly in children and pregnant women.
It is essential to recognize these different manifestations of undernutrition in order to put in place appropriate interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of affected populations.
Women and young children are the hardest hit by this scourge. Women, who are victims of inequality in some countries, have no access to food or sufficient resources to buy enough to satisfy their hunger. Children have more fragile immune systems, and are therefore highly vulnerable.
What are the consequences of undernutrition for children?
Undernutrition poses a vital threat to children. It weakens the immune system and exposes them to frequent and serious infections, such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria. A child suffering from severe acute undernutrition is 9 to 12 times more likely to die than a well-nourished child. Today, it is estimated that nearly 45% of deaths in children under 5 are linked to undernutrition, either because they suffered directly from it, or because their weakened bodies were unable to fight off an infection. These figures underline the urgent need for early treatment and effective prevention to avoid these devastating consequences.
Under-nutrition in children can have serious and irreversible consequences, affecting physical growth, cognitive development and the immune system.
Nutrition plays a central role in cognitive development, and an imbalance in essential nutrients can hinder brain growth. These deficiencies have long-term repercussions on educational success and professional prospects in adulthood. Today, around 1 in 5 children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth, totalling 149 million children worldwide.
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What are the main causes of undernutrition?
Multiple factors cause malnutrition. Conflict, climate change, a lack of access to drinking water, and poverty linked to economic shocks and inequality can all lead to food insecurity among vulnerable populations.
CONFLICT
Conflict has a direct impact on food security, as it compromises access to food considerably. People forced to flee from escalating violence are uprooted and lose their farms, businesses or other local means of food production, as well as their markets. Abandoned fields and farms no longer produce food for distribution circuits that are further away. Distributors’ food supply may be cut off and the populations depending on them may no longer receive enough food.
CLIMATE CHANGE
In the space of 30 years, the number of natural disasters – droughts, cyclones, floods, etc. – linked to climate change has increased significantly. The effects of climate change are often dramatic and devastate regions that are already vulnerable. Infrastructures are damaged or destroyed and disease spreads quickly. Farmers can no longer grow their crops or rear their livestock. According to United Nations studies carried out in more than 40 developing countries, the drop in agricultural production generated directly or indirectly by climate change could cause the number of people suffering from hunger to skyrocket in the next few years.
LACK OF ACCESS TO WATER
Even today, millions of people do not have access to running water, and waterborne diseases can contribute to malnutrition. The WHO estimates that 50% of child malnutrition cases are directly linked to the consumption of dirty water and to a lack of access to hygiene and sanitation.
ECONOMIC SHOCKS
Most food crises occur following an economic shock. Many people are becoming more and more vulnerable due to price fluctuations. Inflation raises the price of food, thus heightening food insecurity and poverty. A lack of food in markets and problems with access to markets due to lack of adequate transport or enough financial resources are also factors behind malnutrition.
How to prevent and treat malnutrition
Since 1979, Action contre la Faim has been working to prevent, detect and treat malnutrition, its causes and its consequences for the most vulnerable populations. As hunger has many causes, we adopt a multi-sectoral approach to overcome it. We work in the fields of nutrition and health, water, sanitation and hygiene, mental health and care practices, and food and livelihood security.
Preventing undernutrition: a multi-sectoral approach
To prevent undernutrition, it is essential to combine targeted interventions within health systems with broader actions on the social and environmental determinants of nutrition.
To prevent undernutrition, Action contre la Faim is strengthening the integration of nutritional interventions into maternal, reproductive and child health care, supporting supplementation for pregnant women, prenatal consultation, breastfeeding and appropriate nutrition for young children. We also work to improve access to primary healthcare, including the prevention and treatment of childhood illnesses and infections that exacerbate undernutrition.
Action contre la Faim provides support through agricultural programs that encourage local production, and initiatives such as food distribution and cash transfers. Action contre la Faim also works to promote appropriate dietary practices, and runs campaigns to encourage breastfeeding and raise parents’ awareness of the importance of a varied, nutrient-rich diet from an early age.
Action contre la Faim works to strengthen the resilience of communities in the face of climatic crises, which often exacerbate food insecurity. As in Zambia, where Action contre la Faim has helped farmers produce cowpeas, a small black bean that is drought-resistant and can grow in the driest soils. Our teams are also working to improve access to drinking water and hygiene infrastructures, thereby limiting diseases that can worsen undernutrition.
Detecting and treating undernutrition
Our teams work directly with communities to detect undernutrition early by measuring brachial perimeter, enabling parents and caregivers to identify children at risk.
Once diagnosed, children suffering from severe acute undernutrition are cared for with ready-to-use therapeutic foods and medical treatment, as part of a follow-up program at health centers for cases with no medical complications. Action contre la Faim also provides mental health support for families. Undernutrition often has serious emotional consequences, and psychosocial support is essential to overcome these ordeals.
Acting for lasting change: advocacy. Finally, we carry out important advocacy work with governments and international institutions to integrate the fight against undernutrition into public policy.Thanks to this global approach, Action contre la Faim is able to act effectively on the causes and consequences of undernutrition.
Christophe Da Silva
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This content has been reviewed and approved by Caroline Antoine, Head of Nutrition & Health at Action contre la Faim.
Sources :
¹ Rapport SOFI 2024
² OMS
³ OMS – Définition de la malnutrition
⁴ Rapport SOFI 2024
⁵ Rapport SOFI 2024
⁶ Rapport SOFI 2024
⁷ Rapport SOFI 2024
⁸ Open Letter to UN Member States on the Global Food Crisis
⁹ Unicef
