About Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a global issue that affects billions. It means undernutrition, or a lack of the necessary energy, protein or micronutrients in developing countries, and overnutrition and obesity, or too much energy, fats or specific micronutritients in developed countries and, increasingly, in developing countries. Malnutrition accounts for 11 percent of the global burden of disease.1 Each year it kills 3.5 million children under five years old and impairs hundreds of thousands of growing minds.2 Countries may lose two to three percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a result of iron, iodine, and zinc deficiencies.3 Read the key facts

1. 1. The Lancet’s Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition, Volume 371, January 19, 2008
2. 2. Ibid
3. 3. Horton, Alderman, Rivera. Copenhagen Consensus 2008 Challenge Paper- Hunger and Malnutrition, 2008