Vikas Bhatia
All India Institute of Medical Science, India
Title: Malnutrition: Needs Refinement for Healthy Communities in Developing Nations
Biography
Biography: Vikas Bhatia
Abstract
Malnutrition results from eating a diet in which nutrients are either not enough or in excess leading to various health problems. Under-nutrition leads to marasmus, kwashiorkor, vitamin & mineral deficiencies; Over-nutrition leads to overweight & obesity and other diseases. However, the term malnutrition is interchangeable and usually referred to under-nutrition only. Various reports & documents prepared by WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and other organisations equates it with undernutrition which has been primarily the public health problem of havenot’s and developing countries and over nutrition being of developed nutrition. India is an emerging economy with 1.2 billion population where undernutrition has declined from 26% (1991) to 15% in 2014 (FAOSTAT, 2014). Underfive anthropometry reports from UNICEF/ WHO/World Bank reveals that prevalence of wasting is 20% and severe wasting is 7%. WHO has also reported presence of overweight (BMI ≥25) as 11% & obesity (BMI ≥30) as 2% (combined 13%) among adults. Adding 13% of overnutrition to 15% malnutrition in 2014, exceeds 26% of undernutrition existing 25 years back. Thus, gains achieved are neutralised with overall prevalence of malnutrition remains same. Now, 34%, 11% and 30% of population in India are affected by high blood pressure, blood sugar level and blood cholesterol levels, respectively. Thus, there is need to understand the health challenges posed by both under and overnutrition and the meaning of “Malnutrition” must be refined, nutrition related programmes & policies of the government must be developed to meet the challenge of malnutrition.