The economics of malnutrition: Dietary transition and food system transformation

W.A Masters, Amelia Finaret, S A Block

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract / Description of output

Rapid increases in food supplies have reduced global hunger, while rising burdens of diet-related disease have made poor diet quality the leading cause of death and disability around the world. Today's “double burden” of undernourishment in utero and early childhood then undesired weight gain and obesity later in life is accompanied by a third less visible burden of micronutrient imbalances. The triple burden of undernutrition, obesity, and unbalanced micronutrients that underlies many diet-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and other cardiometabolic disorders often coexist in the same person, household and community. All kinds of deprivation are closely linked to food insecurity and poverty, but income growth does not always improve diet quality in part because consumers cannot directly or immediately observe the health consequences of their food options, especially for newly introduced or reformulated items. Even after direct experience and epidemiological evidence reveals relative risks of dietary patterns and nutritional exposures, many consumers may not consume a healthy diet because food choice is driven by other factors. This chapter reviews the evidence on dietary transition and food system transformation during economic development, drawing implications for how research and practice in agricultural economics can improve nutritional outcomes.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Agricultural Economics
PublisherElsevier
Chapter90
Pages4997-5083
Volume6
ISBN (Print)1574-0072
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 18 May 2022

Publication series

NameHandbook of agricultural economics
PublisherElsevier B.V.
ISSN (Print)1574-0072

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Food policy
  • Nutrition transition
  • Diet quality
  • Diet-related disease

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The economics of malnutrition: Dietary transition and food system transformation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this