When we hear the word malnutrition , the first image that usually comes to mind is someone who is undernourished, frail, and severely deficient in nutrients. But the truth is that malnutrition goes far beyond hunger. It also manifests itself at the other extreme: overweight and obesity .
Although they seem like opposites, they both share a common denominator: a lack of stable access to healthy, quality food .
The global portrait of malnutrition
According to the SOFI 2018 report (UN) , the numbers reveal a worrying reality:
- 821 million people were undernourished worldwide in 2017.
- 151 million children under 5 years old suffered from stunting.
- More than 38 million children were overweight.
- 672 million adults were living with obesity.
In other words, we live in a world where malnutrition and excess weight coexist, often within the same country, the same community, and even the same family.
How can hunger and obesity coexist?
At first glance, it seems contradictory: how can there be hunger and obesity at the same time? The explanation lies in the quality of the food consumed .
When access to fresh, nutritious produce is limited, many families turn to what's cheapest and most readily available: ultra-processed foods, low in nutrients and high in calories. These foods fill the stomach and provide energy, but leave the body lacking essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
This scenario creates a paradox:
- In the short term, hunger is satisfied.
- In the long term, nutritional deficiencies, weight gain, and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease develop.
Furthermore, the stress associated with food insecurity , as well as the body's physiological adaptations during periods of restriction, can promote weight gain when food is more readily available. This phenomenon is known as the "restriction-compensation cycle" and helps explain why so many people in poverty develop obesity.
The impact of malnutrition on the life cycle
Malnutrition is not just an aesthetic or momentary issue: it has profound consequences throughout life.
- In children, it compromises growth, cognitive ability and academic performance.
- In adults, it affects productivity, mental health and quality of life.
- In health systems, it overloads already limited resources, with extremely high costs in treating associated diseases.
Ultimately, malnutrition perpetuates the cycle of poverty : families with fewer resources have worse health conditions, which reduces opportunities for study and work, reinforcing social inequalities.
Two faces of the same inequality
Hunger and obesity are, after all, two manifestations of the same structural problem: social, economic, and environmental inequalities . The geography of malnutrition shows that this is not a problem exclusive to poor countries. Even in more developed regions, there are communities where access to fresh, nutritious food is limited, giving rise to so-called "food deserts."
On the other hand, aggressive advertising and easy access to ultra-processed products make them the dominant choice, especially when the family budget is small.
The challenge we face
It's not just about counting calories or following fad diets. The real challenge is ensuring everyone has access to nutritious, quality, and affordable food .
This requires structural measures, such as:
- Transforming food systems , encouraging the production and distribution of fresh and sustainable food.
- Effective public policies that regulate the food industry and combat inequality in access.
- Accessible nutritional education , helping people make more informed choices, within their real possibilities.
Conclusion
Malnutrition is one of the greatest paradoxes of our time. In a world that produces enough food for everyone, millions of people still go hungry, while millions more suffer from diseases related to excess food.
The solution lies not only in producing more food, but in changing the way we distribute, consume, and value it . Combating malnutrition, in all its forms, is an essential step toward creating healthier, fairer, and more sustainable societies.