Final answer:
Over the last decade, the proportion of undernourished people has remained high, while overnutrition, including obesity, has increased globally. Despite efforts to achieve zero hunger by 2030, food insecurities persist, and wealth inequalities contribute to malnutrition in both low- and high-income countries. The challenge is exacerbated by rising global population and food prices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Change in Global Nutrition Dynamics Over the Past Decade
In the past decade, the global nutrition landscape has seen a complex shift, marked by a sustained number of people facing undernutrition while witnessing a rise in the number of overweight or obese individuals. More than 820 million people are confronted with insufficient food intake, resulting in undernourishment. Concurrently, there is a disturbing trend of overnutrition, with 1.9 billion adults and 38.3 million children classified as overweight or obese.
This dual burden of malnutrition is attributed to the consumption of inexpensive, energy-dense foods high in fats and sugars. It has been observed that these nutritional issues sometimes coexist within the same household. Staggering statistics reveal that while 45 percent of deaths among children under 5 are linked to undernutrition, childhood obesity rates are escalating, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Malnutrition, encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition, induces significant developmental, economic, social, and medical consequences.
Compounding the issue is a spike in global population and food prices, making it difficult for particularly vulnerable communities to access nutritious food. High malnutrition rates persist, notably in developing countries, while the world's population growth amplifies these challenges. Global efforts aimed at curbing hunger, such as the United Nations' goal to attain zero hunger by 2030, face setbacks, with current trends suggesting that this target may not be reached in time. Inequalities in wealth play a role in malnutrition, even in richer nations, with the existence of 'food deserts' limiting access to nutritious food options for lower-income groups.