Report: M'sia's 'triple burden' of malnutrition - overweight, anaemic and stunted growth

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is "burdened" with citizens who have one of three forms of malnutrition - being overweight, anaemic or having stunted growth.

This is based on the 2018 Global Nutrition Report, written by an independent expert group of world-leading academics, researchers, and also government representatives, which was released on Thursday (Nov 29).

20.7% of children under five suffered from stunting while 24.9% of women suffered from anaemia in 2015.

This was above the mark of 20% for these conditions, for which a country is considered "burdened" by the malnutrition indicators.

In the same year, 6% of children were overweight. This was an increase from 5.5% in 2000.

The report also highlighted very little progress by Malaysia in meeting global nutrition targets in 2018.

Several categories including stunting and wasting in children under five, anaemia in women of reproductive age, diabetes in male and female adults are classified as "no progress or worsening". 

Other countries which have "triple burdens" like Malaysia includes Albania, Botswana, Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Maldives, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, and Syria.

Neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei only suffer from one or two forms of malnutrition.

The report stated that malnutrition is a universal issue that no country can afford to overlook. 

"A third of reproductive-age women (in the world) are anaemic, while 39% of the world’s adults are overweight or obese.

"Each year, around 20 million babies are born underweight.

"Slow progress on malnutrition also impacts the social and economic development of countries," it said. 

The report estimated that malnutrition in all its forms could cost society worldwide up to US$3.5tril (RM14.65tril) per year.

Being overweight or obese alone costs US$500bil (RM2.1tril) per year.

UNICEF’s executive director Henrietta H Fore said the 2018 Global Nutrition Report offers steps to deliver nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets for children.