The global epidemic of child and adolescent obesity affects all world regions, includi ng countries where undernutrition remains common. In 2016, 155 million children were affected by stunting and 52 million children were wasted while 41 million children were overweight. Being underweight or stunted are both associated with increased child mortality and morbidity and impaired child development – about 20% of child deaths are still related to malnutrition. However, being overweight or obese also has immediate physical and mental health implications for a child or adolescent, and both are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and premature death in adults. Paradoxically, a history of low birth weight or stunting is a risk factor for children becoming overweight or obese and developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes in later life. The presence of both obesity and underweight in the same populations, communities and even families is commonly referred to as the “double burden of malnutrition” and highlights the life course consequences of nutrition of women in pregnancy and of children in early life with health and well-being in later life.

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