Double Burden of Malnutrition: Case Study from India

This paper reviews the impact of ongoing socio-economic, demographic and life style transitions on nutritional status, and the health implications of the ongoing nutrition transition. There is growing recognition of the emergence of a “double burden” of malnutrition with under- and overnutrition occurring simultaneously among different population groups in developing countries. This phenomenon is not limited to upper-income developing countries, but is occurring across the globe in countries with very different cultures and dietary customs. There is accumulating evidence that when economic conditions improve, obesity and dietrelated non-communicable diseases may escalate in countries with high levels of undernutrition. There is also evidence to indicate that undernutrition in utero and early childhood may predispose individuals to greater susceptibility to some chronic diseases.