Nutrition and Food Security
How global nutrition challenges are shifting from undernutrition to a 'double burden' of hunger and obesity, and why food systems are a health governance challenge.
The Double Burden
The global nutrition landscape presents a paradox. Roughly 735 million people were chronically undernourished in 2022, while over 1 billion adults are obese. Many countries simultaneously face both problems: stunted children and obese adults sometimes exist in the same household. This 'double burden of malnutrition' reflects the transformation of global food systems, which increasingly provide affordable calories through ultra-processed foods while failing to deliver adequate nutrition.
Childhood malnutrition has devastating long-term consequences. Stunting (low height for age) affects roughly 148 million children under five and causes irreversible cognitive damage and reduced lifetime earnings. Wasting (low weight for height) affects 45 million children and is a direct cause of child mortality. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, vitamin A, zinc, and iodine, affect over 2 billion people. These 'hidden hungers' do not always cause visible starvation but undermine health, development, and economic productivity.