Nutrition Experts Warn AboNutrition Experts Warn About Growing Hunger and Lack of Progressut Growing Hunger and Lack of Progress

Global Nutrition Crisis Intensifies, Say Experts at Geneva Health Forum

Despite progress over the past decade, malnutrition continues to pose a severe global threat, experts warned at the Geneva Health Forum (GHF). As of 2023, 148 million children remain stunted, 45 million suffer from wasting, and one in three women are anaemic. Hunger affected 733 million people, and over 2.8 billion people couldn’t afford a healthy diet.

Francesco Branca from the University of Geneva emphasized people-centered interventions at community health centers, clinics, and food-insecure areas. The warning comes as obesity is expected to more than double to 2.3 billion by 2050.

The session aligned with the Decade of Action on Nutrition extension to 2030, and followed the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, where 47 countries pledged 400+ nutrition-related commitments.

Multisectoral Action and Local Innovations

• Afshan Khan of the UN’s SUN Movement called nutrition a pillar of economic development, noting a $23 return per $1 invested.
• She and other experts stressed integrated services, food labeling, taxes, and youth and private sector engagement.
• Cuts in humanitarian aid are reversing progress, with millions at risk in Gaza, Sudan, and Kenya.

Country Highlights:

Philippines: Launched the PPAN strategy (2023–2028) with “ABCDY” collaboration (Academia, Business, Civil society, Donors, Youth). A sugar-sweetened beverage tax helped reduce teen consumption.

Africa: ALIMA director Moumouni Kinda proposed a pan-African 1 cent sugary drink tax to raise up to $1.4 billion annually for child nutrition.

WHO’s Lina Mahy criticized global inequalities, noting food giants made $1B in profit every two days during the pandemic, while hunger soared.

Innovative Programs:

Aga Khan Foundation committed $45M to nutrition programs, including the Central Asia Stunting Initiative and digital health tools in Pakistan.

Emphasized nutrition-climate links via the Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative (IOCRI), supporting blue foods and sustainable livelihoods.

FAO’s Nancy Aburto urged rethinking agricultural subsidies to better support nutrition, linking food insecurity to broader climate and health strategies.

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