Nutrition
Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival and development.
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Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival and development. But today, many children are not getting the nutrients they need to survive and thrive. This is especially the case for the most vulnerable children: the youngest, the poorest and those trapped by humanitarian crises.
At least one in three children under the age of 5 suffers from malnutrition in its most visible forms: undernutrition or overweight.
Undernourished children may be affected by stunting, wasting or both. Those affected by stunting are too short for their age, and their brains may never develop to their full cognitive capacity. This hinders their ability to learn as a child, earn as an adult, and participate meaningfully in their communities. Children affected by wasting are dangerously thin for their height. They have weakened immune systems and face an increased risk of disease and death. These children require urgent treatment to survive.
Another form of malnutrition, overweight, heightens a child's risk of obesity and certain diseases. It can also cause children to experience behavioural and emotional problems, like stigmatization, low self-esteem and depression.
A less visible form of malnutrition, hidden hunger, occurs when a child becomes deficient in vitamins and other essential micronutrients. Such deficiencies lead to delayed physical growth, a weakened immune system and impaired brain development.
Today, many countries are facing a triple burden of malnutrition – with concurrent problems of undernutrition (both stunting and wasting) overweight, and hidden hunger. As urbanization, poverty, climate change, public health emergencies and other forces bear down on a family's access to healthy diets, the need for essential nutrition services and practices continues to grow.
What we do
UNICEF runs nutrition programmes in 130 countries to reach children, adolescents and women the moment it matters most. Everywhere we operate, we work to prevent malnutrition in all its forms. Where prevention fails, treatment is a must.
UNICEF improves children’s access to nutritious, affordable and sustainable diets. We support essential nutrition services that keep children and women well nourished. And we protect and promote positive feeding, dietary and care practices.
Where prevention falls short, UNICEF supports the early detection, treatment and care of malnourished children to help them survive – and to go on to live healthy, productive lives with dignity.
