Background
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), DPR Korea, in collaboration with WHO, convened a virtual webinar on Updates in Child Nutrition. The session addressed emerging evidence, regional strategies, and programmatic tools across the lifecycle—from infancy through adolescence. It built on global commitments, including the Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Child Nutrition and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030).
Key Technical Highlights
Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN):
- Reaffirmed exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by timely, diverse complementary feeding.
- Addressed challenges of aggressive formula marketing, with WHA78 expanding the International Code to digital marketing.
Childhood Overweight and Obesity:
- Over 35 million children under 5 were overweight in 2024, with Asia carrying nearly half the burden.
- WHO’s Acceleration Plan highlighted healthy school food standards, taxation of sugary beverages, and promotion of daily physical activity.
Nutrition Assessment and Monitoring Tools:
- Updates on Global Nutrition Targets extended to 2030: reducing stunting, wasting, anaemia, and overweight, and increasing exclusive breastfeeding.
- Demonstrated new monitoring tools (Global Nutrition Targets Tracking Tool, updated growth reference data, and new infant/young child feeding indicators).
Adolescent Nutrition:
- Adolescence recognised as a critical growth window with long-term implications for NCDs, immunity, and reproductive health.
- WHO recommendations included weekly iron–folate supplementation, fortification of staple foods, delaying early marriage and pregnancy, and ensuring 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
Regional and Country Strategies:
- SEARO guidance reinforced the “first 1,000 days” approach, dietary diversity, micronutrient supplementation, and social protection for vulnerable groups.
- Emphasis on school health platforms, food environment regulations, and adolescent-friendly interventions.
Impact for DPR Korea
- Policy Alignment: National nutrition strategies are now supported by updated WHO recommendations spanning infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
- Capacity Strengthening: New monitoring and assessment tools empower health professionals to track progress and refine interventions.
- Double Burden Addressed: Joint focus on undernutrition and rising overweight risks helps prepare for the country’s evolving health landscape.
- Social Protection & Systems Change: Reinforcement of school feeding, adolescent nutrition services, and regulation of food environments to protect the most vulnerable.
Way Forward
- Disseminate updated WHO guidelines and tools at national and sub-national levels.
- Integrate adolescent nutrition within child health and school programmes.
- Organize national-level cascade training to build the capacity of health workers and programme managers.
- Strengthen intersectoral collaboration to improve food environments, enforce marketing regulations, and expand social protection.
- Continue WHO–MoPH partnership to accelerate progress towards the 2030 nutrition targets.
The webinar underscored WHO’s leadership in translating global evidence into actionable strategies, equipping DPR Korea to advance child and adolescent nutrition, safeguard health, and build a resilient future generation.