Context:
India has made no progress on anaemia and childhood wasting according to the 2021 Global Nutrition Report (GNR, 2021) released in November 2021.
Relevance:
GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues related to health, Issues related to Children, Government Policies and Initiatives)
Dimensions of the Article:
- Highlights of the Global Nutrition Report (GNR) 2021
- About India’s Progress in the GNR 2021
- Way Forwards suggested by the GNR 2021
Highlights of the Global Nutrition Report (GNR) 2021
- Only seven countries are on track to meet four of the six maternal, infant and young child nutrition targets by 2025, while no country is ‘on track’ to halt the rise in adult obesity or achieve a 30% relative reduction in salt/sodium intake.
- An estimated additional 155 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty globally, while people with diet-related chronic diseases experience worse Covid-19 outcomes.
- The previous decade has seen little progress in improving diets, and a quarter of all deaths among adults are attributable to poor diets.
- At the current rate of progress, the global nutrition targets will not be achieved by 2025 globally and in most countries worldwide.
- No region is on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at limiting health and environmental burdens related to diets and the food system.
About India’s Progress in the GNR 2021
- There has been a rise in anaemic Indian women since 2016 from 52.6% to 53% in 2020. Over half of Indian women in the age group 15-49 years are anaemic.
- India is also among 23 countries that have made no progress or are worsening on reducing ‘childhood wasting’.
- India is among 53 countries ‘on course’ to meet the target for stunting.
- The country is among 105 countries that are ‘on course’ to meet the target for ‘childhood overweight’.
- Over 17% of Indian children under 5 years of age are affected.
- Over 34% of children under 5 years of age are still affected
- India is meeting 7 of the 13 global nutrition targets which include sodium intake, raised blood pressure (both men and women), obesity (both men and women) and diabetes (both men and women).
Way Forwards suggested by the GNR 2021
- There needs to be a step-change in efforts and financial investments to end poor diets and malnutrition.
- Poor diets and malnutrition should be addressed holistically and sustainably to create a healthy future for all.
- Better data, greater accountability and systematic monitoring are key to identify the progress needed.
-Source: Down to Earth Magazine
