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	WHO > Health topics > Nutrition

Nutrition

Girl eating from a bowl

Nutrition is the intake of food, considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs. Good nutrition – an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity – is a cornerstone of good health. Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Q&A: what is the recommended food for children in their very early years?

Q&A: up to what age can a baby stay well nourished by just being breastfed?

MULTIMEDIA

10 facts on nutrition

10 facts on breastfeeding

RELATED TOPICS

- More nutrition topics
- Child and adolescent nutrition
- Diet and physical activity
- Oral health
- Diabetes
- Emergencies

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

The WHO Child Growth Standards

Micronutrients

- More about nutrition

PUBLICATIONS

WHO child growth standards and the identification of severe acute malnutrition in infants and children

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

- More publications

STATISTICS

WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition

Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System

Global Database on Body Mass Index

Global InfoBase

WHO PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

Department of Nutrition for Health and Development

PARTNERS

UN Standing Committee on Nutrition

NUTRITION IN WHO REGIONS

African Region
Region of the Americas
Eastern Mediterranean Region
European Region
South-East Asia Region
Western Pacific Region

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