2018 Global Nutrition Report

The 2018 Global Nutrition Report shares insights into the current state of global nutrition, highlighting the unacceptably high burden of malnutrition in the world. It identifies areas where progress has been made in recent years but argues that it is too slow and too inconsistent. It puts forward five critical steps that are needed to speed up progress to end malnutrition in all its forms and argues that, if we act now, it is not too late to achieve this goal. In fact, we have an unprecedented opportunity to do so.

Executive summary

Shining a light to spur action on nutrition. Malnutrition is a universal issue holding back development with unacceptable human consequences. Yet the opportunity to end malnutrition has never been greater.

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Chapter One

Introduction

Malnutrition is a universal problem that has many forms. It affects most of the world’s population at some point in their lifecycle, from infancy to old age. No country is untouched. It affects all geographies, all age groups, rich people and poor people, and all sexes. It is a truly universal problem.

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Chapter Two

The burden of malnutrition

Progress to tackle all forms of malnutrition remains unacceptably slow. There has been some progress in reducing childhood stunting – which is gradually declining – but still 150.8 million children…

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Chapter Three

Three issues in critical need of attention

In this chapter, we highlight three areas that have emerged in recent years as critical for the burden of malnutrition: the need to improve the prevalence data on micronutrient deficiencies, to take a new approach to addressing malnutrition in all its forms during crises, and to build on the emerging focus on malnutrition among adolescents. The chapter provides insights into the state of play and identifies some elements of progress that could be built on into the future.

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Chapter Four

What people eat and why it matters

In this chapter, we highlight the importance of diet as cause and solution of the global burden of malnutrition. To do so, we explore new and emerging data on the state of diets around the world.

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Chapter Five

The fight against malnutrition – commitments and financing

Government spending on nutrition has increased in some developing countries, the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) financial commitment of US$19.6 billion has been met and there are initiatives with the potential…

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Chapter Six

Conclusion: Critical steps to get nutrition on track

This year’s Global Nutrition Report shows advances in policy and actions, commitments and financing, and data collection and analysis, while also highlighting the immense challenge of tackling malnutrition in all its forms. The past five years have seen some gradual but welcome progress on nutrition.

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Abbreviations

Read more on the abbreviations used throughout the 2018 Global Nutrition Report.

Glossary

Read more about the nutrition terms used throughout 2018 Global Nutrition Report.

Endorsements

Find out more about what nutrition stakeholders have to say about the 2018 Global Nutrition Report.

Dataset and metadata

Find here the data, meta data and technical note used for the 2018 Global Nutrition Report.

appendix one

Appendix 1: Assessing country progress against global targets — a note on methodology

Find out how the 2018 Global Nutrition Report tracks country progress against global nutrition targets.

appendix two

Appendix 2: Countries on track for global nutrition targets

Read more to find out about country progress against global nutrition targets.

appendix three

Appendix 3: Countries with significant multiple forms of malnutrition

Read more about what countries suffer from one, two or three malnutrition burdens.

2018 Global Nutrition Report

Executive summary

Introduction

The burden of malnutrition

Three issues in critical need of attention

What people eat and why it matters

The fight against malnutrition – commitments and financing

Conclusion: Critical steps to get nutrition on track

Abbreviations

Glossary

Endorsements

Dataset and metadata

Appendix 1: Assessing country progress against global targets — a note on methodology

Appendix 2: Countries on track for global nutrition targets

Appendix 3: Countries with significant multiple forms of malnutrition

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