The Double Burden of Malnutrition in East Asia and the Pacific
Global trends indicate that overlapping burdens of undernutrition and overnutrition—the double burden of malnutrition (DBM)—are the new normal (IFPRI 2014); indeed, most East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries now have a DBM problem. This report explores the nature of nutrition problems affecting EAP countries to understand the sectoral and system-wide actions necessary for a coordinated approach to improving nutrition. The report (i) synthesizes evidence related to the burden of malnutrition in EAP, (ii) identifies the rationale for a multisectoral approach to DBM practitioners working across sectors in EAP, and (iii) provides an overview of the types of actions and interventions needed to address the DBM in a coordinated fashion across the life course. Actions across health and nonhealth sectors—ranging from implementation of national-level policy measures and complemented by interventions at the community and individual levels to support behavior change—are needed to prevent escalation of overweight and obesity. Among sectoral priority actions, the health sector plays an important role in monitoring health and nutrition outcomes, preventing and treating infectious and noncommunicable diseases associated with malnutrition, and providing interventions that affect individuals’ nutrient intakes. Similarly, nonhealth sectors have expertise and resources to deliver interventions related to the underlying causes of malnutrition. Further, systems-strengthening efforts are needed to support an environment that addresses the DBM across the life course, including increasing DBM-sensitivity of policy frameworks; leadership, coordination, and accountability; workforce capacity; and knowledge and evidence. Reducing the DBM is fundamental to sustainable development in EAP. EAP countries must shift from dichotomized policies addressing either undernutrition or overnutrition and develop coherent frameworks to address malnutrition in all forms for all life stages. Integrated preventive and curative interventions for undernutrition and overnutrition—implemented across the life course by multiple sectors—can forestall massive economic and human development consequences for future generations.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper biblioteca |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2016-12
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| Subjects: | malnutrition, nutrition, stunting, overweight, overnutrition, |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/185291487250172586/The-double-burden-of-malnutrition-in-East-Asia-and-the-Pacific-evidence-and-lessons-for-a-multisectoral-response https://hdl.handle.net/10986/26102 |
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| Summary: | Global trends indicate that overlapping
burdens of undernutrition and overnutrition—the double
burden of malnutrition (DBM)—are the new normal (IFPRI
2014); indeed, most East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries
now have a DBM problem. This report explores the nature of
nutrition problems affecting EAP countries to understand the
sectoral and system-wide actions necessary for a coordinated
approach to improving nutrition. The report (i) synthesizes
evidence related to the burden of malnutrition in EAP, (ii)
identifies the rationale for a multisectoral approach to DBM
practitioners working across sectors in EAP, and (iii)
provides an overview of the types of actions and
interventions needed to address the DBM in a coordinated
fashion across the life course. Actions across health and
nonhealth sectors—ranging from implementation of
national-level policy measures and complemented by
interventions at the community and individual levels to
support behavior change—are needed to prevent escalation of
overweight and obesity. Among sectoral priority actions, the
health sector plays an important role in monitoring health
and nutrition outcomes, preventing and treating infectious
and noncommunicable diseases associated with malnutrition,
and providing interventions that affect individuals’
nutrient intakes. Similarly, nonhealth sectors have
expertise and resources to deliver interventions related to
the underlying causes of malnutrition. Further,
systems-strengthening efforts are needed to support an
environment that addresses the DBM across the life course,
including increasing DBM-sensitivity of policy frameworks;
leadership, coordination, and accountability; workforce
capacity; and knowledge and evidence. Reducing the DBM is
fundamental to sustainable development in EAP. EAP countries
must shift from dichotomized policies addressing either
undernutrition or overnutrition and develop coherent
frameworks to address malnutrition in all forms for all life
stages. Integrated preventive and curative interventions for
undernutrition and overnutrition—implemented across the life
course by multiple sectors—can forestall massive economic
and human development consequences for future generations. |
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