Food
Diet-related disease is linked to eight out of ten leading causes of death worldwide. Obesity is on the rise in many countries. Almost nine percent of the world's population is undernourished. Climate change and growing populations are on a trajectory that will lead to increases in food insecurity. This section examines these issues and how food policies and systems impact equity and human well-being.
Food
30 Years
Food sovereignty is an idea that has been discussed in Indigenous communities for about 30 years
1/4
Before the war in Ukraine, Russia and Ukraine accounted for more than a quarter of the world’s grain exports
40 Percent
Globally, 40 percent of children ages 6 to 59 months were anemic in 2019—equivalent to 269 million children
34 Percent
34 percent of U.S. households reported grocery shopping online more since COVID-19
45 Percent
Malnutrition contributes to an estimated 45 percent of child deaths globally
5 Million
An estimated 5 million deaths occur each year due to overweight and obesity
60 Percent
60 percent of children under five in India have anemia
10 Million
Between 1991 to 2016, the number of overweight children in Africa doubled, from 5.4 million to 10.3 million
Featured
Global Lead Poisoning Is the Biggest Threat You’ve Never Heard About
Despite the magnitude of this problem, many have never even heard of lead poisoning as a global health challenge
Is It Time to Rethink Regulations on Ultra-Processed Foods?
Why experts and policymakers are challenging traditional nutrition approaches to tackle diet-related health crises
The Philippines’ Blind Spot for Alcohol
Why the alcohol problem in the Philippines is complicated
COVID-Era Learning Loss Tied to Food Insecurity
New data points to food security as a predicator of academic success during the pandemic
Why Some Children Relapse From Severe Acute Malnutrition
A new pediatric study answers why and how often relapse occurs with the deadliest form of malnutrition
Corporate Influence in Ecuador’s Food Policy
Recent policies enable corporations to set priorities for the country’s child malnutrition strategy
What Brazil’s “Poison Package” Means for Global Food Supplies
New legislation could weaken regulations on pesticide use, allowing for temporary approvals before risks are reviewed
Sri Lanka’s Alcohol Tax Reform Spurs Economic and Health Recovery
Amidst economic turmoil, the opportunity emerges for transformative fiscal policies to tackle public health challenges
Seaweed’s Renaissance
How the seaweed industry is changing the tide on climate, health, and agriculture
A Successful Battle Against the Bottle
How the government, health-care professionals, and the community improved alcohol policies in Taiwan
Reducing Alcohol-Related Deaths in Lithuania
How the country is cutting down on deaths related to excess drinking
Alcohol in Excess
How the World Health Organization plans to curb excess drinking across countries
Overpowering the Food Industry
The presidential politics of childhood obesity in emerging markets
A Look at Food Warning Labels in Mexico
Little black octagons are part of a growing arsenal of policy efforts to combat obesity