Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Monday 8 May 2017
Undernutrition, Obesity Costs Region’s Countries Millions of Dollars

Chile. and consumption, which is
essential for the implemen-
MEXICO CITY - The com- tation of the 2030 Agenda
bined impact of undernutri- for Sustainable Develop-
tion and of overweight and ment,” Bárcena added.
obesity —also known as the The ECLAC/WFP study ex-
double burden of malnutri- pands on the methodolo-
tion— has a significant neg- gy used for the report “The
ative impact on morbidity Cost of Hunger” (which
and mortality rates and on dates back to 2007) by in-
educational performance cluding overweight and
and productivity and, con- obesity.
sequently, has enormous According to the study,
economic repercussions overfeeding is expected
for individuals, communi- to become the region’s
ties and nations, reveals a heaviest social and eco-
report launched recently in nomic encumbrance. From
Mexico City.
The study —titled “The Cost 2014 to 2078, overweight
of the Double Burden of and obesity are forecast
Malnutrition” (in Spanish) to cost an estimated an-
— is the result of a part- nual total of US$ 1.0 billion
nership between the Eco- in Chile, US$ 3.0 billion in Ec-
Alicia Bárcena, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC. nomic Commission for Latin uador and US$ 13.0 billion
America and the Caribbe- in Mexico.
-A report by ECLAC and indicates that malnutri- to 4.3% of GDP in Ecuador, an (ECLAC) and the World “Over the past decade,
the World Food Programme tion had an impact equal 2.3% in Mexico and 0.2% in
Food Programme (WFP) numerous middle-income
and calculates losses in countries have taken great
productivity, health and strides in reducing under-
education in Chile, Ecua- nutrition. The problem per-
dor and Mexico. sists, however, and we are
According to the research, now seeing a worrying
the economic impact of trend among vulnerable
the double burden of mal- communities, with cases
nutrition is now equal to of undernutrition and over-
4.3% of Ecuador’s gross do- weight found simultane-
mestic product (GDP) and ously within the same fam-
2.3% of Mexico’s: US$ 4.3 ily,” said Miguel Barreto,
billion and US$ 28.8 billion a the Regional Director of
year, respectively. the WFP.
In those countries, undernu- “Both undernutrition and
trition afflicts an economic overweight impose a
burden that is between 1.5 heavy burden on the
and 3 times greater than
the burden imposed by health of those families,
overweight and obesity, which ultimately translates
chiefly on account of lost into lost productivity and
productivity. pressure on the health and
However, the economic education systems of the
burden of overnutrition is countries where they live,”
already significant and he added.
continues to rise. In Chile, The study recommends
a country that has eradi- measures for mitigating
cated undernutrition, over- that burden. Governments
weight and obesity cost must bolster consumer
the equivalent of 0.2% of education through clear
GDP: in other words, US$ policies and initiatives to
500 million a year. ensure reliable foodstuff
“The double burden of labelling, physical exercise
malnutrition has a growing regimens and support for
impact on poor and vul- nutritional education pro-
nerable populations, and grammes within communi-
it is becoming another fac- ties.
tor in the inequality found The study invites the food
in our region,” said Alicia industry to work with gov-
Bárcena, the Executive ernments to ensure the
Secretary of ECLAC. production, availability
“In the current context of and accessibility of healthy
economic deceleration, foodstuffs and to play a
it is more imperative than positive and responsible
ever that countries make role in educating consum-
every effort to adopt a new ers about healthy eating
paradigm of production options.q