Why public nutrition matters

Public health is the collective action of society to protect and promote the health of whole populations. Public health nutrition aims to prevent both undernutrition and overnutrition.

The scale of the problem: malnutrition underlies at least 50 per cent of deaths of children under five. Almost one-fifth of Indian babies are born with low birth weight (less than 2,500 g), and nearly half of pre-school children from poor families have mild or moderate undernutrition.

Many people suffer 'hidden hunger': a deficiency of micronutrients, especially iron, zinc, vitamin A, C and D, iodine, folic acid and B12. Malnutrition harms growth, cognition (learning and thinking) and productivity. It costs over 10 per cent of a person's lifetime earnings, and 2-3 per cent of the nation's GDP.

At the same time, sedentary lifestyles and diets of processed and fast foods, high in energy, sugar, fat and salt, cause overweight, obesity and NCDs. So India faces the double burden of malnutrition.

Communicable diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB, hepatitis, malaria) are worse in people who are poorly nourished or have lowered immunity. That is why trained public health nutritionists are needed. Under- and over-nutrition together: the double burden.