Return to Facts - Section 4
Undernourishment and malnutrition; Diet related non communicable diseasesThe following text is taken from pp 14-15 of FAO, 1995. Dimensions of Need. An Atlas of Food and Agriculture. FAO, Rome, 1995
Undernourishment and malnutritionOver 800 million people, mostly in the developing world, are chronically undernourished, eating too little to meet minimal energy requirements. Millions more suffer acute malnutrition during transitory or seasonal food insecurity. Over 200 million children suffer from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and each year nearly 13 million under fives die as a direct or indirect result of hunger and malnutrition.Malnutrition usually results from diets lacking specific nutrients but can also be caused by so-called "diets of excess:. PEM is most common among young children and pregnant women in the developing world. It is usually caused by energy-deficient diets (that may also lack protein) coupled with infections that raise nutrient requirements while limiting the intake and utilization of food. It is the prime cause of low birth weight and poor growth in the developing world where mothers themselves may have a legacy of low birth weight, stunted growth and anemia. Malnutrition can have serious effects, right from conception. Vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased child mortality, and is a prime cause of child blindness. Iodine deficiency leads to slow growth and mental development and to goitre. Anaemia, large due to iron deficiency, is the most widespread nutritional problem, affecting 2000 million worldwide. It can impede learning and productivity and is a leading cause of maternal mortality in developing countries. Calcium deficiency is a leading risk factor for osteoporosis, a condition where bones become fragile and brittle. Inadequate vitamin C can lead to scurvy and has been linked to poor absorption of iron and an increased risk of certain non-communicable diseases. Diet-related non-communicable diseasesNon-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, cancer, stroke, hypertension and diabetes have become more common since advances in medicine have reduced the impact of infectious diseases and life expectancy has increased. In the developing world, infectious diseases remain the prime cause o death, but deaths related to diet, activity and lifestyle are on the increase. In the developed world, by ar the most common causes of death are non-communicable diseases.Foremost among factors which contribute to the greater incidence of these diseases is the widespread change towards increasingly sedentary lifestyles. This, combined with dietary change (more fact, less fruit, vegetables and whole grains), can contribute to a wide range of chronic diseases that often lead to permanent disability and premature death. The relationship between dietary intake, exercise and heart diseases is specially strong, Studies show a clear connection between diets extremely high in fats, especially animal fats,, and low in fruits ad vegetables and an increased risk of obstruction of blood flow and hardening of the walls of the arteries. With the arteries constricted, the heart must work harder to pump blood through them. This extra stress often results in coronary heart diseases. Studies also indicate a direct relationship between diets rich ins complex carbohydrates and fibre and a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, particularly of the lower bowel. Eating fibre-rich foods assist bowel function. For a healthy lifestyle: avoid tobacco, do not exceed a moderate alcohol intake and take exercise -sufficient to raise heartbeat -for 20 minutes, three to five times a week. Weight and healthThe body mass index (BMI) gives an easy guide to what body weight is compatible with good health. BMI is calculated by dividing body mass (weight in kilograms) by the square of the person's weight in meters. In adults the BMI should fall between 18.5 and 25. Up to 30 is considered overweight. Values above 30 indicate obesity. Health problems resulting from too little (low BMI)
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