A new report underscores the critical link between diet quality and child nutrition in South Asia, a region grappling with both malnutrition and obesity challenges.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) unveiled its 2024 Global Food Policy Report: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition at a regional event in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Thursday.
Co-authored by 41 researchers from IFPRI and partner organizations, the report calls for urgent, transformative actions to ensure sustainable, healthy diets for all.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Nepal, focused on enhancing food security and transforming food systems in the region.
Key findings of the report include a slowdown in progress toward reducing undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in low- and middle-income countries, alongside a rapid rise in overweight and obesity rates. This dual burden of malnutrition—where undernutrition coexists with diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—poses significant global health challenges.
The report also highlights that food systems contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. It calls for a transformation of food systems to minimize environmental impacts while ensuring food security.
Globally, over 2 billion people, including many in South Asia, cannot afford a healthy diet. Addressing affordability and accessibility is crucial to improving nutrition outcomes.
Diet quality and malnutrition
The report identifies poor diet quality as a major driver of malnutrition in the region. In Nepal and other South Asian countries, diets are predominantly based on cereals and starchy roots, with low consumption of vegetables and micronutrient-rich foods. This imbalance contributes to persistent undernutrition and increasing obesity rates.
Affordability is another significant issue, with many in Nepal unable to access nutrient-rich foods. Addressing these barriers is essential for improving health and nutrition.
Nepal’s progress in reducing child mortality and stunting is notable. Minister of Health and Population Pradip Poudel pointed out: “According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022, there has been a significant decrease in child mortality, and stunting has dropped from 57% in 2001 to 25% in 2022.” However, he noted, “Despite this progress, many women and children still consume unhealthy foods. Food systems play a critical role in delivering high-quality diets, and we need to reassess our food systems strategies and their integration with health systems.”
Reflecting on the region's evolution from food scarcity to surplus, Dr Shahidur Rashid, Director – South Asia Region at IFPRI, emphasized: “Inclusive economic growth will only occur when the population is adequately nourished.”
The report advocates for a comprehensive approach to transforming food systems and improving diet quality globally. Key recommendations include implementing crop-neutral policies to promote diverse, nutrient-rich foods, adjusting agricultural subsidies, and enhancing social safety net programs.
It also stresses the importance of strengthening governance and fostering collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to create an environment conducive to sustainable healthy diets.
Dr Johan Swinnen, director general of IFPRI and managing director of Systems Transformation at CGIAR, concluded: “We must all work to advance this knowledge and implement effective strategies. Addressing four key areas—availability, accessibility, affordability, and desirability—is essential to achieving sustainable healthy diets for all.”
