Climate change and noncommunicable diseases:

the nutrition connection

© Samuel Hauenstein Swan

PHI satellite event at the High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases September 19th, 2011, NY

© Samuel Hauenstein Swan

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Presentation planPresentation plan

• Nutrition and NCDs

• Climate change and nutrition

• Climate change and NCDs: the nutrition

connection

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Nutrition and Nutrition and

Noncommunicable Noncommunicable

diseases (NCDs)diseases (NCDs)

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Undernutrition is still a Undernutrition is still a major development major development

challengechallenge• 925 million people suffer from long-term

hunger

• 171 million young children are chronically undernourished

• 55 million children are wasted

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© Samuel Hauenstein Swan

Causes of deaths among children under age five, 2008

Source: Black et al. 2010, Lancet

More than one-third of child deaths

are attributable to undernutrition

But this is just one side of the problem

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• Chronic, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) cause 63% of global deaths (WHO 2010). Total NCD deaths are projected to rise to 52 million by 2030.

• 80% of NCD deaths occurred in LMIC in 2008

• Some 1 billion adults and 20 million children are estimated to be overweight

Copyright: Barry Popkin

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Total deaths by broad cause groupRegion and by sex

Source: Global status report on non-communicable disease (WHO, Source: Global status report on non-communicable disease (WHO, April 2010)April 2010)

This is the double This is the double

burden of malnutritionburden of malnutrition

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Implications of Implications of developmental origins developmental origins of health and diseaseof health and disease

Fetal and early childhood is a critical period during which growth is maximum and biological conditions are programmed. Environment hazzards during this period have potential for increase the prevalence of NCDs. This is particularly important for low income countries that are starting to face the double burden of malnutrition.

Fetal and early childhood is a critical period during which growth is maximum and biological conditions are programmed. Environment hazzards during this period have potential for increase the prevalence of NCDs. This is particularly important for low income countries that are starting to face the double burden of malnutrition.

Many risk factors for NCDs are

nutrition related

• Inadequate foetal development; lack of breastfeeding;

• Inappropriate complementary feeding; stunting;

• Low fruit and vegetable intake; high salt (NaCl) intake;

• Saturated fat and trans fatty acid intake; high cholesterol;

• Overweight and obesity, childhood obesity is a special concern;

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Climate change and Climate change and

nutritionnutrition

Understanding the

consequences: CC and water / temperature

stresses

-50% -15%0%

+35%+15%2080

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Source: Adapted from Black et al, 2008

Climate Change exacerbates undernutrition

Climate change and Climate change and

NCDs: The nutrition NCDs: The nutrition

connectionconnection

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© Samuel Hauenstein Swan© Samuel Hauenstein Swan

A revitalized multi-sectoral approach is needed:

•Sustainable, climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agricultural development (i.e. promoting sustainable food production and sustainable consumption of healthier diets rich in fruits, vegetables and less saturated fats from animal origin);

•Access to maternal and child health care, safe water and sanitation systems; Social protection schemes to address undernutrition; women’s empowerment, among others.

For more information see UNSCN policy brief www.unscn.org or Contact the UNSCN Secretariat at scn@who.int

Preventing NCDs needs ensuring Nutrition Preventing NCDs needs ensuring Nutrition Security in a Changing ClimateSecurity in a Changing Climate

ConclusionsConclusions• Climate change will increase the NCD epidemics.

One mechanism is through CC impact on nutrition

• Early nutrition matters and the window of opportunity is from conception to 24 months

• Systemic and holistic approaches are needed: addressing causes and not symptoms they will benefit nutrition, health and the environment