National Nutrition Week 2024: National Nutrition Week, celebrated every year from September 1 to 7, is known for its important role in raising awareness about nutrition and its impact on public health. You should know that according to the Food Security 2023 report, around 74% of the Indian population cannot afford a healthy diet and 39% of people suffer from nutrient deficiencies, we know about it in detail below.
National Nutrition Week 2024 celebrated this year aims to educate people about the importance of a balanced diet and encourage healthy eating habits in communities. Let us know what the theme of this year’s National Nutrition Week is and about its history and importance.
What is the historical context of National Nutrition Week 2024?
Historically, National Nutrition Week 2024 began in March 1973, when the American Dietetic Association launched a campaign to raise awareness about nutrition.
The National Nutrition Week initiative later inspired similar events around the world, including India, where it was officially launched by the central government in 1982. The main objective of this initiative was to combat malnutrition, especially among vulnerable populations, and to promote balanced dietary practices.
What is the importance of nutrition?
What is the importance of nutrition? If we understand it in simple language, it helps maintain health, prevent diseases and increase the quality of life.
National Nutrition Week 2024 is a reminder that good nutrition matters, especially in a country like India where malnutrition remains a major public health challenge. According to the Food Security 2023 report, around 74% of the Indian population cannot afford a healthy diet and 39% suffer from nutrient deficiencies. This highlights the urgent need for initiatives that promote nutrition education and healthy food choices.
What initiatives has the government taken so far in the area of nutrition?
One of the initiatives taken so far by the government on nutrition is Poshan Abhiyaan, launched in March 2018, which aims to reduce stunting, wasting and anaemia among children and women. Moreover, the National Nutrition Month, celebrated in September, complements this effort by organising health screenings and community outreach programmes to raise awareness about nutrition.
What is the theme of National Nutrition Week 2024 this time?
The theme for National Nutrition Week 2024 is “Nutritious Diets for All,” which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses on promoting diets that meet the nutritional needs of people at all stages of life.
National Nutrition Week 2024: What the 2024 report on food security and nutrition says
As mentioned earlier, according to the Food Security 2023 report, around 74% of the Indian population cannot afford a healthy diet and 39% suffer from nutrient deficiencies. The Food Security and Nutrition 2024 report was recently released, which highlighted the significant challenges facing India. It is reported that currently around 55.6% of the Indian population, equivalent to 790 million people, cannot afford a healthy diet, which is a slight improvement from previous years, but still presents significant economic barriers.
According to the report, 194.6 million people in India are undernourished, the highest number in the world, and 13% of the population is chronically undernourished. Childhood malnutrition remains a serious problem, with 31.7% of children under five suffering from stunting and 18.7% from wasting. In addition, the report says that 27.4% of babies are born with low birth weight and 53% of women between 15 and 49 years of age suffer from anaemia, the highest in South Asia.
The 2024 Food Security and Nutrition Report highlights the coexistence of undernutrition and rising obesity rates, with 7.3% of adults obese. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive nutrition programs and increased public investment in food security initiatives to effectively address these interconnected issues.
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