Original title: 2.3 billion people worldwide are overweight! More than 150 million children are stunted
According to a report recently published by the lancet magazine, according to the United Nations website, undernutrition and obesity are the two extremes of malnutrition in one third of low - and middle-income countries. To this end, the World Health Organization calls for a new approach to the rapidly changing food system.
Around the world, nearly 2.3 billion children and adults are overweight and more than 150 million children are stunted, according to the new report, warning that undernutrition and obesity can affect generations.
'we can't just link low-income countries with undernutrition, or focus on obesity in high-income countries,' said Francesco Blanca, lead author of the report and director of who's Department of nutrition for health and development.
He said: 'all forms of malnutrition have one thing in common - it cannot provide a healthy, safe, affordable and sustainable food system for all. Changing this requires action across the entire food system - from production and processing to trade and distribution, pricing, marketing and packaging, to consumption and waste. All relevant policies and investments must be fundamentally reviewed. '
Eat more fruits, vegetables and less meat
The report recommends a high-quality diet to limit the spread of undernutrition and obesity, including best breast-feeding practices in the first two years of life, adding fruits and vegetables to the diet, reducing the proportion of meat, and avoiding foods rich in sugar, saturated fat, trans fat and salt.
However, food systems in many countries are increasing the supply of over processed foods associated with overweight problems, while there are fewer fresh food markets. Who points out that eating unhealthy food increases the risk of non communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Health programs are not conducive to achieving goals
The report points out that action to address malnutrition has not taken into account key factors, including early life nutrition, dietary quality, socio-economic factors and the food environment.
In fact, in low - and middle-income countries with rapidly changing food environments, programs to address malnutrition may inadvertently increase the risk of non communicable diseases associated with obesity and diet.
Some examples of action to address malnutrition and obesity include improved prenatal care and breastfeeding practices, social welfare, and new agricultural and food system policies with a healthy diet as the main goal.
The authors call on governments, international organizations and the private sector to invite people from new sectors of society, such as grassroots organizations, farmers and innovators, to respond to the double burden of malnutrition with a new attitude.
Dr Blanca said: 'without a profound transformation of the food system, the economic, social and environmental costs of inaction will hinder personal growth and social development for decades to come. '