Thread by @WHO

The world is moving backwards in efforts to eliminate hunger & malnutrition with 828 million people affected by hunger globally in 2021: UN State of Food Security and Nutrition report bit.ly/3IhHXjw

An estimated 45 million children under five years old were suffering from wasting*, the deadliest form of malnutrition, which increases children’s risk of death by up to 12 times bit.ly/3IhHXjw

*wasting: when children are too thin for their height

149 million children under five years old had stunted* growth & development due to a chronic lack of nutritious food in their diets, while 39 million were overweight.

*stunting: when a child is too short for their age, due to a failure to grow both physically & cognitively

🤱🏻Progress is being made on exclusive #breastfeeding where infants under six months old being exclusively breastfed worldwide:
2020: Nearly 44%
2012: 37.1%
2030 target: 50%

More: bit.ly/3IhHXjw

The ongoing war in #Ukraine, involving two of the biggest global producers of staple cereals, oilseeds & fertilizer, is disrupting intl supply chains, pushing up the prices of grain, fertilizer, energy & ready-to-use therapeutic food for children with severe malnutrition.

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1544709008635879430

11M ppl die due to unhealthy diets every year. We have to improve food systems through:
-taxing unhealthy foods
-subsidising healthy options
-protecting children from harmful marketing
-ensuring clear nutrition labels
-product reformulation
-public food procurement
-food safety

Rice🍚, sugar🍬 & meats🥩 of various types are most incentivized food items worldwide, while fruits🍎 & vegetables🥦 are relatively less supported, particularly in some low-income countries bit.ly/3IhHXjw

Evidence suggests that if governments repurpose the resources they are using to incentivize the production, supply & consumption of nutritious foods, they will contribute to making healthy diets less costly, more affordable and equitably for all bit.ly/3IhHXjw