Milk-and-Dairy-Products-in-Human-Nutrition-FAO

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Milk and dairy products in human nutrition
(MDG 1c) is within reach, although many challenges remain and accelerated action
is needed to continue this positive trend.
1.2.2 Childhood undernutrition
While undernourishment has been declining there have also been improvements in
child nutritional status as expressed by the key anthropometric indicators of child
stunting, underweight, wasting and nutrition-related child mortality. Nevertheless,
the rate of improvement suggest that we are unlikely to meet the United Nations’
goal of halving the 1990 underweight prevalence levels on a global level or in all
developing countries.
New estimates show that globally 165 million children under five years of age,
or 26 percent of all children, were stunted (low height-for-age) in 2011, a 35 percent
decrease from an estimated 253 million in 1990 (UNICEF, WHO and World Bank,
2012). Despite improvements, high prevalence of stunting remains a major problem,
especially in Africa and South Asia where 90 percent of the world’s stunted children
reside. Stunting reflects the cumulative effects of poor maternal nutrition, poor diet
and infections during the first two years of life. It results in slowed child growth and
impedes brain development; it often goes unrecognized and is largely irreversible.
Adequate dietary intake is especially critical in the period from 6 to 18 months of a
child’s life when a child’s growth rate is high. At six months, breastmilk alone is no
longer adequate to support normal growth and mental development and nutrientrich
complementary foods must be introduced, including animal-source foods.
There has also been a decline in the prevalence of underweight (low weight-forheight)
globally, with an estimated 101 million children under five years of age, or
16 percent of all children, underweight in 2011, a 36 percent decrease from an estimated
159 million in 1990 (UNICEF, WHO and World Bank, 2012). Underweight
was selected as the indicator to track progress towards the MDG target of reducing
malnutrition by half by 2015. Children who have a low weight-for-age can either
be wasted (low weight-for-height), stunted or both. Underweight is a composite
indicator and may therefore be difficult to interpret.
An estimated 52 million children under five years of age were wasted in 2011,
representing an 11 percent decrease from an estimated 58 million in 1990. Latest
estimates show that 70 percent of the world’s wasted children live in Asia, mostly
in South Asia (UNICEF, WHO and World Bank, 2012). Wasting results from acute
nutritional deprivation, often combined with infection, and occurs especially during
periods of severe food shortages. Wasted children have a weak immune system and
are at increased risk of severe acute malnutrition and death. Findings show that
childhood malnutrition is an underlying cause of death in an estimated 35 percent
of all deaths among children under the age of five years, indicating that continuing
efforts to improve access to better quality diets and health are imperative (Black et
al., 2008).
1.2.3 Micronutrient malnutrition
Access to better and more diversified diets is key for combating problems of micronutrient
malnutrition or “hidden hunger”. Despite progress in addressing micronutrient
malnutrition in some countries and regions, several billion adults and children
continue to be affected by one or more nutrient deficiencies (FAO, 2011). Although