Public nutrition and health

The essentials

Public nutrition focuses on the nutrition problems of whole populations and on community-level actions to prevent them. It combines nutrition science with public health, economics and social policy. In India the main problems are undernutrition (especially in young children and women), micronutrient deficiencies, and a rising problem of overweight, obesity and diet-related chronic diseases — together called the double burden of malnutrition.

Key points

• Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM): marasmus (severe wasting, "skin and bones") and kwashiorkor (oedema, mainly due to inadequate protein).
• Anthropometric indicators in children: stunting = low height-for-age (chronic undernutrition); wasting = low weight-for-height (acute undernutrition); underweight = low weight-for-age.
• Iron deficiency anaemia: tiredness, pallor; common in women and children.
• Vitamin A deficiency: night blindness, xerophthalmia; can lead to blindness.
• Iodine deficiency disorders: goitre, mental retardation; prevented by iodised salt.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): delivered through anganwadi centres; services include supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check-up, referral services, preschool non-formal education, and nutrition and health education.
• School meal programme (Mid-Day Meal, now PM POSHAN): cooked meals for schoolchildren to improve nutrition and attendance.
• Other measures: iodised salt programme, vitamin A supplementation, iron and folic acid supplementation, food fortification, Public Distribution System.

Exam tips

Link each deficiency to its sign and its preventive programme. Know what the three child indicators measure.

Common mistakes

Treating stunting and wasting as the same; stunting reflects long-term undernutrition, wasting a recent, acute one.