Nutrition in the Western Pacific

Good nutrition plays a fundamental role in human health, survival and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.

Malnutrition, in all its forms, presents significant threats to human health. Today the world faces a double burden of malnutrition that includes both undernutrition and overweight, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO is providing scientific advice and decision-making tools that can help countries take action to address all forms of malnutrition to support health and wellbeing for all, at all ages.

Essential nutrition actions to achieve optimum health and nutritional well-being are identified throughout the course of life. The Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition aim to end hunger and eradicate all forms of malnutrition worldwide. The two faces of malnutrition include undernutrition, such as wasting, stunting and micronutrient deficiencies, as well as those associated with dietary imbalance and excess, such as overweight, obesity, or diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

There is a potential of double-duty actions to effectively and simultaneously address the global challenge of double burden of malnutrition. Double-duty actions through integrated interventions, programmes and policies have the potential to improve nutrition outcomes across the spectrum of malnutrition.

Childhood overweight and obesity

In the Western Pacific Region, there has been a remarkable increase in childhood overweight and obesity over the past decades. Children and adolescents who are obese are more prone to becoming obese adults, and this poses an increased risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Food marketing

A big contributor to the rise of overweight and obesity in children is the increasing exposure to the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages. If countries don’t take urgent action now, food marketing will continue to affect children’s food preferences, leading to diet-related noncommunicable diseases.

WHO supports country-specific actions to improve the food environment for children through multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The Regional Action Framework on Protecting Children from the Harmful Impact of Food Marketing aims to support Member States in their efforts to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing, as appropriate to national contexts. It is guided by the principles of government leadership, evidence-driven and rights-based approaches, equity, and ensuring safeguards against conflicts of interest.

Healthy diet

While governments, policy makers and society can collectively act against overweight and obesity, it is also crucial to promote healthy diets among children and adolescents: eliminating excessive intake of sugar, salt, saturated and trans fatty acids. Together, we can all promote nutrition in building a healthier and more productive future generation.

Infant and young child feeding

Early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life, and introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary foods at 6 months together with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond have positive impact on the nutritional status, growth and development, health, and thus the very survival of infants and young children.

Nutrition and COVID-19

During emergencies like COVID-19, appropriate and timely support to infant and young child feeding saves lives, protects child nutrition, health and development, and benefits mothers. WHO recommends that mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate or continue to breastfeed. Mothers should be counselled that the benefits of breastfeeding substantially outweigh the potential risks for transmission.

Our work

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Promoting healthy diets

Reducing modifiable risk factors for noncommunicable diseases

Protecting, supporting and promoting breastfeeding

Reducing the double burden of malnutrition

Developing regulatory frameworks for healthy diets

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