Third World Still Fighting Malnutrition

Although “spectacular gains” have been made against some nutritional deficiencies, one-third of children in the developing world are malnourished, according to a report released today.

The report by the United Nations Children’s Fund found that child malnutrition in the developing world had fallen from 32% to 28%, or about 150 million children in all. But nearly half the children in South Asia and nearly one-third in sub-Saharan Africa were malnourished, the report said.

“The familiar symbol of the visibly starving child misrepresents the problem. In reality, most malnutrition is totally invisible,” according to the report, “Malnutrition: The News.”

Frequent illness, not a lack of food, is the major factor in malnutrition, the report said. An overwhelming majority of malnourished children live in homes with enough food, according to the study. Illness can cause a lack of appetite, and vomiting and diarrhea deplete vital nutrients.

The vast majority of malnourished children develop the condition in the first three years of life.