Combating Nutrition Insecurity In Developing Nations

COMBATING GLOBAL NUTRITION INSECURITY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS THERE ARE 7 BILLION PEOPLE ON EARTH. 2 BILLION+ are lacking in essential vitamins and minerals needed for growth and good health 1.4 BILLION are overweight or obese 870 MILLION take in less calories than the minimum dietary requirement (98% live in developing nations) 783 MILLION lack potable drinking water 456 MILLION are very poor (live on < US $1.25/ day) THE IMPACT OF POVERTY, BAD WATER & POOR SANITATION ON NUTRITION SECURITY POVERTY IS LARGELY POOR DRINKING WATER, A RURAL PROBLEM SANITATION & HYGIENE • 70% OF THE WORLD'S POOR populations (approx. 1 billion) live • 1/10 OF DISEASES and 6.3% of all deaths are caused by poor in rural areas. drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. • DIARRHEAL DISEASE IS THE 2ND • 80% OF HUNGRY PEOPLE are small-scale food producers (i.e. farmers, herders, fishers or laborers), yet they go leading cause of death among children under 5. • 1/5 DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN without food. under 5 are caused by diarrhea. That's about 1.5 million deaths per year. GLOBAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS MACRONUTRIENTS: Examples include protein, carbohydrates and fat, which are needed for energy, growth and other bodily functions. As growth slows down, brain development also lags (i.e. stunted children are more likely to learn poorly). GLOBAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 are stunted (90% reside in Africa and Asia) 18% underweight) 30% are underweight (15% are born MICRONUTRIENTS: Five micronutrient deficiencies MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES: of concern are iron, folate, vitamin A, zinc and iodine. Deficiencies result in fatigue, reduced learning ability, • LACK OF DIVERSE FOODS TO CONSUME brain damage, pregnancy complications, reduced immunity and higher risk of mortality from disease. • FREQUENT ILLNESS HOW CAN WE IMPROVE NUTRITION SECURITY WORLDWIDE? Improve global nutrition security by getting involved in promoting and implementing effective and sustainable policies, systems, programs and practices that support individual, community and national efforts. riegt Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "Nutrition Security in Developing Nations: Sustainable Food, Water & Health" (April 2013); http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id-8358