An Analytical Framework to Guide Investment Selection and Program Design

Overview & Synopsis

Malnutrition – encompassing undernutrition, overweight, and obesity – imposes significant and persistent costs to human capital, health, and economic growth. Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are estimated to cost the global economy between 2% and 3% of GDP annually - equivalent to approximately US$1.4 to $2.1 trillion. Overweight and obesity are among the top three preventable causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and are estimated to cost 2.19% of GDP. Improving the healthiness of diets could prevent one in five deaths globally and unhealthy diets cost economies 5.8% of GDP. People who are well nourished throughout life are more likely to survive, be healthier and more productive, and contribute to economic growth. This imperative sits squarely within the World Bank Group's commitment to expand access to quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030 — an ambition that cannot be achieved without addressing the role of healthy diets in preventing malnutrition and reducing the burden on health systems.