Nutrition (2024)

Nutrition (1)

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    Overview

    Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.

    Healthy children learn better. People with adequate nutrition are more productive and can create opportunities to gradually break the cycles of poverty and hunger.

    Malnutrition, in every form, presents significant threats to human health. Today the world faces a double burden of malnutrition that includes both undernutrition and overweight, especially in low- and middle-income countries. There are multiple forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition (wasting or stunting), inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight, obesity, and resulting diet-related noncommunicable diseases.

    The developmental, economic, social, and medical impacts of the global burden of malnutrition are serious and lasting for individuals and their families, for communities and for countries.

    Burden

    Most recent estimates show that globally, 149.2 million children under the age of 5 years of age are stunted (too short for their age) and 45.4 million are wasted (underweight for their height). The number of children with stunting is declining in all regions except Africa. Over three-quarters of all children suffering from severe wasting live in Asia.

    Around 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. These mostly occur in low- and middle-income countries.

    Anaemia is a serious global public health problem that particularly affects young children and pregnant women. WHO estimates that 40% of children less than 5 years of age and 37% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic. Thirty percent of women of reproductive age have anaemia.

    Globally, 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese and 38.9 million children under 5 years of age are overweight. Rates of childhood overweight and obesity are rising, particularly in high-income and upper-middle-income countries.

    Although breastfeeding protects against undernutrition and overweight, only 44% of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

    High sodium consumption (>5 g salt/day) contributes to high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Most people consume too much salt – on average 9–12 grams per day, or around twice the recommended maximum level of intake.

    WHO response

    According to the 2016–2025 nutrition strategy, WHO uses its convening power to help set, align and advocate for priorities and policies that move nutrition forward globally; develops evidence-informed guidance based on robust scientific and ethical frameworks; supports the adoption of guidance and implementation of effective nutrition actions; and monitors and evaluates policy and programme implementation and nutrition outcomes.

    This work is framed by the Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition, adopted by Member States through a World Health Assembly resolution in 2012. Actions to end malnutrition are also vital for achieving the diet-related targets of the Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, the Global strategy for women’s, children’s, and adolescent’s health 2016–2030, the report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (2016), and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

    In May 2018, the Health Assembly approved the 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13), which guides the work of WHO in 2019–2023. Reduction of salt/sodium intake and elimination of industrially produced trans-fats from the food supply are identified in GPW13 as part of WHO’s priority actions to achieve the aims of ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

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    Nutrition (2)

    In 2023, WHO established a multidisciplinary Technical Advisory Group on Gestational Weight Gain (TAG-GWG) to advise on the process of developing GWG standards...

    Nutrition (3)

    The third One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) Annual Report outlines the accomplishments of the panel during its activity in 2023 according to...

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    Nutrition (4)

    To collate and assess the most recent scientific information relevant to the control of thermotolerant Campylobacter species in broiler production and...

    Nutrition (5)

    Drinking safe water is the best way for children to stay healthy and quench thirst.Water is the best choice for children to restore the fluids their...

    Nutrition (6)

    Complementary feeding indicators from the WHO South-East Asia Region reflect suboptimal food intake in young children (8). Poor feeding practices and inaccessibility...

    Nutrition (7)

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has established the second edition of the global benchmarks for sodium levels in 70 food subcategories as part of WHO’s...

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    Nutrition (2024)

    FAQs

    Nutrition? ›

    What is nutrition and why is nutrition important? At the most basic level, nutrition is about eating a regular, balanced diet. Good nutrition helps fuel your body. The foods you eat supply the nutrients your body needs to maintain your brain, muscle, bone, nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system.

    What nutrition means? ›

    (noo-TRIH-shun) The taking in and use of food and other nourishing material by the body. Nutrition is a 3-part process. First, food or drink is consumed. Second, the body breaks down the food or drink into nutrients.

    What are 7 types of nutrition? ›

    There are more than 40 different kinds of nutrients in food and they can generally be classified into the following 7 major groups:
    • Carbohydrates.
    • Proteins.
    • Fats.
    • Vitamins.
    • Minerals.
    • Dietary fibre.
    • Water.
    Nov 6, 2023

    How do you explain nutrition? ›

    Nutrition is the study of food and how it affects the health and growth of the body. Nutrients are substances found in foods that our bodies use to grow, reproduce and survive. Proteins are important for growth and development. They also help your body repair tissue, carry oxygen, digest foods, and regulate hormones.

    What are the 5 importances of nutrition? ›

    Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.

    What does your nutrition mean? ›

    Nutrition includes all the stuff that's in your food, such as vitamins, protein, fat, and more. It's important to eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains, so you have what you need to grow and be healthy.

    What is nutrition defined as? ›

    Nutrition is the process of taking in food and converting it into energy and other vital nutrients required for life. In the process of nutrition, organisms utilize nutrients. The main nutrients are carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and roughage.

    What are two main types of nutrition? ›

    The two main type of nutrition is autotrophic and heterotrophic. When an organism can prepare its own food, such as plants, they are known as autotrophs and such type of nutrition is known as autotrophic nutrition.

    How does nutrition work in the body? ›

    Nutrients have one or more of three basic functions: they provide energy, contribute to body structure, and/or regulate chemical processes in the body. These basic functions allow us to detect and respond to environmental surroundings, move, excrete wastes, breathe, grow, and reproduce.

    What is the basic concept of nutrition? ›

    Nutrition is about eating a healthy and balanced diet. Food and drink provide the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. Understanding these nutrition terms may make it easier for you to make better food choices.

    What is the difference between nutrition and diet? ›

    Diet refers to the total amount of food consumed by individuals; whereas nutrition is the process of utilising food for growth, metabolism and repair of tissues. The relationship between diet and nutrition and health is 2-way; health status can be affected by nutrient deficiency and vice versa.

    What is the difference between nutrition and health? ›

    These two definitions may seems similar but there is a difference. Healthy just means a food that stops you from getting sick and keeps you living longer. Nutritious means a food that fills you with the sufficient amount of nutrients (vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins) your body requires to survive.

    What disease is caused by lack of nutrients? ›

    These include, but are not limited to, Protein Energy Malnutrition, Scurvy, Rickets, Beriberi, Hypocalcemia, Osteomalacia, Vitamin K Deficiency, Pellagra, Xerophthalmia, and Iron Deficiency.

    What are the six basic nutritional requirements? ›

    There are six basic nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. All of these are classified as essential. Your body requires essential nutrients to function properly.

    What food does not help in good nutrition? ›

    Go slow on unhealthy foods
    • Added sugar. Whether it's white granulated sugar, brown sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, or honey, sugar contains almost no nutrients and is pure carbohydrate. ...
    • Baked sweets. ...
    • White carbohydrates. ...
    • Processed and high-fat meats. ...
    • Salt.
    Oct 28, 2016

    What best defines nutrition? ›

    Nutrition is about eating a healthy and balanced diet. Food and drink provide the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy.

    What is the simple definition of nutrients? ›

    Listen to pronunciation. (NOO-tree-ent) A chemical compound (such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin, or mineral) contained in foods. These compounds are used by the body to function and grow.

    What is the meaning of full nutrition? ›

    Complete nutrition refers to the consumption of a balanced diet that provides all of the nutrients the body needs to function properly. A complete and balanced diet should contain all of the essential macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in adequate amounts.

    What is type of nutrition definition? ›

    Nutrition is of two types namely, autotrophic and heterotrophic mode of nutrition.​ Plants exhibit autotrophic mode of nutrition. They prepare their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Animals exhibit heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

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