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Malnutrition
Malnutrition

Malnutrition in the Western Pacific

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The co-existence of wasting, stunting, low birth weight and micronutrient deficiencies on the one hand, and overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) on the other within individuals, households, and populations, is referred to as the double burden of malnutrition. The Western Pacific Region overall faces increased marketing of unhealthy processed food products and rising obesity amid urbanization and economic growth. Many countries in the Western Pacific Region continue to struggle with undernutrition, especially affecting infants.

Adequate provision of nutrients, beginning with exclusive breastfeeding until six months, is crucial to ensure good physical and mental development and long-term health. Substantial benefits can be obtained by concentrating efforts from conception through the first two years of life, but at the same time a life-course approach is needed for good nutritional status at any age.

Technical links

11 million children under-5 years of age are stunted

In 2020, about 11 million children under the age of five were too short for their age (stunted). There has been considerable progress in the reduction of stunting in the Region, but the prevalence of stunting remains above 20% in ten Member States.    

8.8 million children under five years of age are overweight

 

 

In 2020, about 8.8 million children under the age of five were overweight. Almost all Member States are off track to halt the increase of childhood overweight by 2025. 

 

 

1 in 4 women has anemia

One in four women of reproductive age has anemia. No countries and territories in the Region are on course in achieving the global nutrition target of 50% reduction in the prevalence of anemia by 2025. 

1.8 million infants were born with low birthweights

Majority of Member States are off course in achieving the global nutrition target of 30% reduction in low birth weight by 2025. 

 

 

Only 1 in 3 infants is exclusively breastfeed

In 2019, about one of three infants is exclusively breastfeed in the first 6 months of life in Western Pacific Region. Four Member States are on course of global target of increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months up to at least 50% by 2025.

2.4 million children under five years of age are wasted

 

In 2020, about 2.4 million children under the age of five were too thin for their height (wasted). Only three Member States were on course in meeting the target for the reduction of wasting by 2025. 

 

 

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