Health and Nutrition Problems Require Broad-Based Solutions

A healthy and nutritionally well-fed population is indispensable for economic growth and development. Poor health and nutrition diminish people's capacity to learn and reduce productivity and economic growth. In turn, reduced growth and productivity harm health and nutrition. Overall development strategies, therefore, must incorporate health and nutrition concerns.

In the new briefs, leading experts examine emerging health issues (HIV/AIDS, obesity, chronic diseases, aging, and neglected micronutrients) and reemerging ones (malaria and tuberculosis), as well as topics such as intrauterine growth disorders and the global burden of disease. They also identify priorities for policymakers.

The collection was released at a panel discussion on February 27, where several authors spoke. Anthony Barnett of the University of East Anglia described the immense threat HIV/AIDS poses to lives and economies, especially in Sub-Saharan African and Asia; Reynaldo Martorell of Emory University analyzed obesity's growing presence in the more advanced developing countries; Noel Solomons of the Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging, and Metabolism (CeSSIAM) discussed the food security needs of the growing numbers of elderly people; and Rafael Flores and Stuart Gillespie of IFPRI presented an overview of key health and nutrition issues and the policy priorities involved. More than 50 researchers and other experts from the Washington, D.C., area attended the meeting.

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