SA flunks three malnutrition tests, says global hunger report

South Africa fails three critical tests for malnutrition, according to a global report that calls on governments and businesses to do more to improve eating habits.

The Global Nutrition Report, an independent annual analysis, says SA is “burdened” by stunting among under-fives, and anaemia and overweight among women – all key indicators of malnutrition.

SA is one of 41 countries – three-quarters of which are in Africa – facing this triple burden. And it is on track to meet only two of the nine nutrition targets examined in the report. These relate to wasting among under-fives and overweight in the same age group.

In terms of anaemia among women of reproductive age it is making “some progress”. But in the other indicators it is making “no progress or worsening”. These are stunting in under-fives and obesity and diabetes in adult men and women. No data was available for SA in the final category measured, exclusive breastfeeding.

The fifth edition of the annual report, released on Thursday at a global food conference in Bangkok, said the burden of malnutrition was unacceptably high and Africa was “by far” the world’s hardest-hit region.

Corinna Hawkes, co-chairperson of the report, said: “The figures call for immediate action. Malnutrition is responsible for more ill health than any other cause. The health consequences of overweight and obesity contribute to an estimated four million deaths globally.

“The uncomfortable question is not so much ‘why are things so bad?’ but ‘why are things not better when we know so much more than before?’ ”

Globally, stunting among children under five has fallen from 32.6% in 2000 to 22.2% in 2017, but SA’s rate is 27.4%.

The data shows an overall increase in both overweight and obesity in Africa at the same time as the region experiences significant growth in consumption of packaged foods, most of which are nutritionally deficient.

Eating unhealthy food, or not having enough food — including children unable to breastfeed — contribute to widespread malnutrition. “Diets are one of the top risk factors of morbidity and mortality in the world — more than air pollution, more than smoking,” said Jessica Fanzo, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in the US and a lead author.

“What we’re eating is killing us. So something needs to get us back on track with our food system.”

She said a lack of knowledge and affordability of nutritious food, as well as ineffective supply chains, were among the factors that contribute to poor diets.

The researchers analysed 194 countries and found that all of them are battling some form of malnutrition.

However, they say there is now better and more detailed data, which has created an unprecedented opportunity to craft effective responses.

The report cites Amsterdam, which faced a weight crisis among young people and set up programmes in 2012 to prevent and treat obesity.

Initiatives included public drinking fountains, restrictions on food advertising and guidance about healthy snacks in schools. Today, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Amsterdam is levelling off, the report says.

Reducing food waste could also improve nutrition, said Sir John Beddington, co-chairperson of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, an independent group of experts.

“Each year more than half of all the fruits and vegetables produced globally are lost or wasted,” he said.

Fanzo said nutrition was crucial to building up immunity against disease, as well as mental cognition. “You have to care about what people are eating if you want to build the intellect of your country,” she said.

Rachel Toku-Appiah, the nutrition programme manager for the Graça Machel Trust, was the South African representative on the stakeholder group which provided feedback on the draft of the report.