LONDON: Almost every country in the world now has serious nutrition problems, either due to over-eating leading to obesity or a lack of food leading to undernutrition, according to a major study published on Saturday.
Researchers behind the Global Nutrition Report, which looked at 140 countries, said the problems were “putting the brakes on human development as a whole” and called for a critical change in the response to this global health threat.
The report found that while malnutrition rates are falling globally, their rate of decrease is not fast enough to meet the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.
More than 155 million children aged under five are stunted due to lack of nutrition, and 52 million are defined as “wasted” — meaning they do not weigh enough for their height, the report said.
At the other end of the spectrum, over-eating is taking a heavy toll on people of all ages worldwide: the report found that two billion of the world’s seven billion people are now overweight or obese.
In North America, a third of all men and women are obese.
Worldwide, at least 41 million children under five are overweight, and in Africa alone, some 10 million children are now classified as overweight.
“Historically, maternal anemia and child undernutrition have been seen as separate problems to obesity and non-communicable diseases,” said Jessica Fanzo, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in the US who co-led the Global Nutrition Report.
“The reality is they are intimately connected and driven by inequalities everywhere in the world. That’s why governments ... need to tackle them holistically, not as distinct problems.”
Donor funding for nutrition rose by just 2 percent to $867 million in 2015, the report found. It said funding needs to be “turbo charged” and called for a tripling of global investment in nutrition to $70 billion over 10 years.
The Global Nutrition Report is an independently produced annual analysis of the state of the world’s nutrition. It tracks progress on targets for maternal, infant and young child nutrition and on diet-related chronic diseases adopted by World Health Organization member states.
Millions either malnourished or obese in global nutrition crisis, major study says
Millions either malnourished or obese in global nutrition crisis, major study says
Where We Are Going Today: Adani Bar in Jeddah
- The two-way cheese sandwiches, paired with either strawberry or blueberry jam, play on sweet and savory contrasts
Located in Al-Rawdah, Adani Bar is a small cafe founded on Yemeni tea and coffee traditions, with a menu that mixes the familiar with personal interpretation.
The focus here is clearly on Adani tea. The classic version blends milk with tea and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, cloves and habaq. It is served hot or cold and the balance remains steady in both forms.
Other drinks lean toward fusion, including the London, which combines Yemeni Haraz coffee with cinnamon paste, milk and maple syrup, and ya caramela, in which Adani tea is paired with a Haraz espresso shot and caramel sauce.
These drinks show experimentation, though some combinations feel busier than necessary and may not appeal to those who prefer simpler tastes.
Food options are limited, but show some variety nevertheless. Sandwiches such as the ultimate tuna — with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and tahini mayo — and the establishment’s turkey offering — a regional take on turkey and mozzarella — are filling without being heavy.
The two-way cheese sandwiches, paired with either strawberry or blueberry jam, play on sweet and savory contrasts.
And do not miss the lamb kebab, a new menu addition served both as a plate and a sandwich and served with yogurt, tahini and accompaniments that stay close to traditional flavors.
Desserts follow a similar approach. I tried the basboosa with Adani ice cream, which connected well with the cafe’s core theme. I also tried dibs and tahini brownies, both of which were rich and satisfying, boasting layered elements that made for generous portions.
