Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

Nat Med. 2020 May;26(5):750-759. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Abstract

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1-70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6-70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization's Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8-38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8-67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Demography
  • Developing Countries / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Geographic Mapping
  • Humans
  • Income / statistics & numerical data
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / epidemiology
  • Nutritional Status
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Pediatric Obesity / epidemiology
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Social Class
  • Wasting Syndrome / epidemiology*