According to a recent report by the United Nations, over 821 million people worldwide endured hunger in 2018. The report, titled “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019”, was compiled by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) along with other key UN agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
Rising Prevalence of Undernourishment Globally
Despite decades of consistent decrease, the global rate of hunger, as gauged by undernourishment, took a reverse turn in 2015. It has remained largely unchanged for the past three years at slightly under 11%, making reaching Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture – more challenging.
Undernourishment is increasing throughout most of Africa, rendering it the region with the sharpest prevalence of undernourishment at almost 20%. In Asia, despite significant progress over the past five years, Southern Asia continues to suffer the highest levels of undernourishment, at roughly 15%.
GDP and Economic Impact of Undernutrition
Estimates suggest that undernutrition could potentially decrease Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by up to 11% in Africa and Asia. There’s a noticeable correlation between economic slowdowns or downturns and increased undernourishment, with 65 out of 77 countries experiencing economic struggles between 2011 and 2017 also recording increases in undernourishment. Economic shocks can exacerbate the effects of conflict and climate events on acute food insecurity.
| Region | Prevalence of Undernourishment (%) |
|---|---|
| Africa | 20 |
| Southern Asia | 15 |
Global Health Indicators Show Varied Results
When it comes to breastfeeding, only 40% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, a statistic far from the 2030 target of 70%. Similarly, there has been no progress in reducing the global prevalence of low birthweight since 2012. On a brighter note, the number of stunted children has seen a 10% decrease over the past six years.
Food Insecurity and Obesity: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Food insecurity, both moderate and severe, affects about 2 billion people worldwide, with women typically more affected than men. Simultaneously, overweight and obesity rates continue to rise across all regions, particularly among school-age children and adults. An estimated 40 million children under five were overweight in 2018.
Nutrition and Dietary Concerns
Globally, most school-age children don’t consume enough fruits or vegetables and regularly indulge in fast food and carbonated soft drinks. Lack of physical activity is also rife among this demographic. Anaemia is a major concern too, currently affecting 33% of women of reproductive age – more than double the 2030 target limit of 15%.
India-Specific Findings
In India, the rate of undernourishment has decreased from 22.2% in 2004-06 to 14.5% between 2016 and 2018. However, food insecurity in Southern Asia increased from less than 11% in 2017 to over 14% in 2018, likely reflecting an uptick in unemployment rates in India (and Pakistan) between 2017 and 2018.
Call for Action
The report recommends taking steps to reduce gender and social inequalities, create synergies between poverty reduction, hunger eradication and malnutrition elimination. There’s a call for targeted policies that promote and safeguard breastfeeding, increase the availability and affordability of nutritious foods, and curb the consumption of harmful fats, salt and sugars. Finally, safeguarding food security and nutrition through economic and social policies to mitigate the impact of economic slowdowns or downturns is crucial. This includes guaranteeing funding for social safety nets and ensuring universal access to health and education.
