WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
Early morning exercise in the Rizal Park in Manila city, Philippines.
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Obesity and overweight

    Overview

    Countries in WHO South- East Asia are in a state of nutrition transition driven by the flourishing economic development, urbanization which have led to lifestyle changes. Unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity are the key causes. The ongoing nutrition transition in the Region is characterized by persistent under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, and the emerging problem of over-nutrition. While South-East Asia has some of the lowest prevalence of overweight and obesity globally, they are seeing an alarming trend in the rates of increase in the last 10-15 years. An estimated 6.6 million young children under 5 years and one in five adults are currently overweight.  The growing paradox of under-nutrition and obesity in the same population, commonly described as the double burden of malnutrition impacts health status of the population and is straining national health capacities. 

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    Report of the WHO South-East Asia Regional meeting on nutrition and climate change

    Climate change undermine global food systems, increases food and nutrition insecurity and and exacerbates malnutrition in vulnerable populations. In the...

    Regional workshop on reducing young child malnutrition through optimizing diets and the food environment

    Optimum young child diets are essential to ensure the health and development of children to their full potential. Poor diets affect growth and metabolism,...

    Nutrient and promotion profile model. Ending the inappropriate promotion of food products for older infants and young children

    Complementary feeding indicators from the WHO South-East Asia Region reflect suboptimal food intake in young children (8). Poor feeding practices and inaccessibility...

    Healthier populations and noncommunicable diseases: biennium report (‎2020–2021)‎

    World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia. (‎2022)‎. Healthier populations and noncommunicable diseases: biennium report (‎2020–2021)‎....

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