Nutrition Basics

Adequate nutrition and nourishment are imperative to ensuring fullness of life for infants and young children. Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals and water are necessary for the proper functioning of body systems and overall health. When one or more of these nutrient categories are missing or not present in sufficient quantities, physical and cognitive development, proper organ system function and overall good health become compromised. World Vision is committed to its goal of ensuring that each family and community is equipped to sustain adequate nutrition for every child. To achieve this goal, our work addresses the main global nutrition concerns below.

Malnutrition: According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition describes the deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Malnutrition can affect people of all ages.

Stunting: A consequence of malnutrition in which a child is too short for his or her age (low height-for-age).

Wasting: A consequence of malnutrition in which a child is underweight for his or her height (low weight-for-height)

Anaemia: Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency and affects millions of women and children across the globe. Severe iron deficiency manifests as anaemia and results in fatigue and reduced cognitive and immune function.

WHY ARE SO MANY CHILDREN MALNOURISHED?

Reasons why children may not have access to sufficient nutrition can vary. Financial difficulty, conflict, displacement, a diet not diverse enough to receive all nutrients, high quantities of processed foods with insufficient nutritional value and lack of proper WASH can all contribute to poor childhood nutrition outcomes.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

World Vision utilizes a diverse set of project models to deliver lasting nutrition impact according to the situation, circumstance and context: