Women's nutrition

Women have the right to food and nutrition throughout their lives – a right that is enshrined in multiple international human right instruments. A woman’s nutritional status is a powerful barometer of her well-being. A well-nourished woman has a strong immune system and nutrient reserves to buffer the effects of infection, while meeting her additional nutrient needs during pregnancy or breastfeeding. A well-nourished woman has the cognitive skills and physical strength to earn a good living and participate actively in family and public life. And a well-nourished woman is more likely to have well-nourished infants and young children who join her on a path to good health and prosperity.[1] However, this is not the reality that many women experience as triple threats of undernutrition (underweight and short stature), micronutrient deficiencies and overweight affect women across the world.

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Globally, 31 per cent of women aged 15-49 years are living with the debilitating effects of anaemia while 7 per cent of women aged 18+ years suffer from underweight. On the other hand, overweight is affecting more than 45 per cent of adult women.

South Asia, West and Central Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa rank in the top three regions for the prevalence of anaemia and underweight in women. In fact, these regions are home to 60 per cent of women with anaemia and 65 per cent of women with underweight. In contrast, one in three women in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are living with overweight. Overweight is a common form of malnutrition in women, affecting at least 1 in 2 women in five regions. North America has the highest prevalence of overweight with 70 per cent affected, followed closely by Middle East and North Africa (69 per cent) and Latin America and the Caribbean (68 per cent).

References and footnotes

1. Victora, C. G., Christian, P., Vidaletti, L. P., et al. (2021). Revisiting maternal and child undernutrition in low-income and middle-income countries: variable progress towards an unfinished agenda. Lancet, 397(10282), 1388–1399. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00394-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00394-9

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