The Multiple Burden of Malnutrition in Middle-Income Countries: Challenges and Policies

The phenomenon of the multiple burden of malnutrition, which includes undernutrition, overweight, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies, presents a significant public health challenge in middle-income countries (MICs). However, there is scanty literature that examines the MICs as a separate group, with most combining the MICS with the low-income countries. Most of the studies explore the malnutrition issue in the LMICs (Low and middle-income countries). Given their importance in the global landscape, the MICs deserve a separate examination. This study presents the status, trends and burden of malnutrition in the MICs and uses color mapping schemes to identify malnutrition hotspots. The analysis points to the existence of multiple burdens of malnutrition in these countries. The study reviews the drivers of malnutrition. The results suggest that effective strategies must integrate multi-sectoral approaches that address the shared drivers of malnutrition, including food insecurity and dietary patterns.