e-Library of Evidence for Nutrition Actions (eLENA)

eLENA interventions and global targets

Evidence linking appropriate complementary feeding practices to global targets*

Global nutrition targets 2025


40% reduction in the number of children under-5 who are stunted

Direct evidence for the effect of engaging in appropriate complementary feeding practices on stunting comes from results of a 2013 systematic review and meta-analysis which found that provision of education on appropriate complementary feeding was associated with reduced risk of stunting.



No increase in childhood overweight

Direct evidence for a link between engaging in appropriate complementary feeding practices and childhood overweight is not currently available at the systematic review level. However, results of two 2013 systematic reviews provide limited evidence of an association between early initiation of complementary feeding and energy intake during the complementary feeding period and increased body mass index (BMI). Increased BMI is an indicator for overweight and obesity, thus engaging in appropriate complementary feeding practices may reduce risk of childhood overweight through lowering of BMI.


Global NCD targets for 2025


Halt the rise in diabetes and obesity

Direct evidence for a link between engaging in appropriate complementary feeding practices and obesity is not currently available at the systematic review level. However, results of two 2013 systematic reviews provide limited evidence of an association between early initiation of complementary feeding and energy intake during the complementary feeding period and increased BMI. Increased BMI is an indicator for overweight and obesity, thus engaging in appropriate complementary feeding practices may reduce risk of obesity through lowering of BMI.



* With few exceptions, links noted between interventions and global nutrition or NCD targets are based on published evidence resulting from systematic reviews of the literature. Individual studies were not assessed unless they were included in such a published review.

Coloured icons indicate that there is evidence of a direct link between the intervention of interest and target(s); i.e. systematic reviews are available assessing the effect of the intervention on an outcome directly relevant to the targets (e.g. prevalence of stunting, rate of breastfeeding, etc.).

Grey icons indicate that there is evidence of an indirect link between the intervention of interest and target(s). Where indirect links have been noted, systematic reviews linking the intervention directly to one or more targets are not currently available; i.e. the studies included in the review(s) do not assess the effect of the intervention on the outcomes that are directly relevant to the targets. For example, systematic reviews directly linking breastfeeding to stunting are not currently available. However, systematic reviews linking breastfeeding to a reduction in diarrhoea are available, as are reviews linking diarrhoea to increases in stunting. Therefore, interventions that increase breastfeeding rates may indirectly reduce stunting. Additionally, indirect links may be noted when the only available outcome data is for an indicator used to assess outcomes relevant to the targets. For example, body mass index (BMI) is an indicator for overweight and obesity and an intervention that reduces BMI may contribute to decreasing rates of overweight and/or obesity. Therefore, an indirect link would be noted between interventions for which systematic review(s) report BMI as an outcome, and the global overweight and obesity targets.

Corresponding intervention

Printable summary

Download a summary of all nutrition interventions featured on eLENA with corresponding global nutrition and NCD targets in PDF format