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At least every third child under the age of five - 200 million girls and boys worldwide - suffers from the consequences of inadequate or poor nutrition and is either malnourished or overweight.
This is what the United Nations Children's Fund Unicef describes in its latest "Report on the situation of children in the world". The report documents various forms of malnutrition in children under the age of five.
Thus, 149 million infants are underdeveloped due to malnutrition and not big enough for their age. Some of the main problems arise because food is simply missing. The number of hungry people in the world has been rising again for some time, partly as a result of military conflicts and climate-related natural disasters, which can lead to severe food crises. This also affects many children.
But even children who get enough food often suffer from one-sided nutrition and lack of nutrients, such as vitamin A and iron. According to Unicef, it affects 340 million girls and boys - every second child under five worldwide.
"These numbers are frightening," says Roland Kupka. "It's not just important that children do not go hungry, they also need to get the right food to grow without restrictions." Unicef's nutrition expert explains in an interview how hunger and nutrient deficiencies affect children. And why 40 million children have become overweight and thus become the new risk group.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Kupka, what does hunger mean for the lives of children?
Roland Kupka: Hunger is a term that can quickly be misunderstood. Of course, the feeling of emptiness in the stomach immediately comes to mind. For many people around the world, hunger also means the lack of specific foods. In particular, children not only have to have enough to eat, but they need high quality and variety of food for their growth. Otherwise not only an increased risk of dying, but also infectious diseases, a limited physical and mental growth and thus ultimately worse income opportunities when they grow up. Hunger destroys the whole life.
SPIEGEL: The new Unicef report investigates childhood malnutrition worldwide. This is on the one hand to malnutrition, but also to hidden hunger due to lack of nutrients and obesity in under five years. How does it fit together?
Kupka: Most countries around the world have to deal with one of these problems, some with a combination of all.
SPIEGEL: Do you have an example?
Kupka: In countries in Africa, which we associate with images of starving children, many people are malnourished. During a trip to the north of Nigeria, I saw many children suffering from severe food deprivation during the civil war. Afterwards I was in the south in the metropolis of Lagos, where many children are already overweight. That was crazy to see.
SPIEGEL: How do you explain this violent conflict?
Kupka: The connecting factor is the poor quality of the food. People in rural areas often have no access to foods such as eggs, meat or vegetables that are responsible for growth. There is more choice in cities, but there are many products that are high in calories and low in nutrients. But that's not the only thing in Africa. Worldwide, the number of children between five and 19 years of overweight has almost doubled. In many countries, large companies are now marketing unhealthy products such as soft drinks and fast food to children - and governments are looking the other way.
59% of children worldwide do not eat enough essential nutrients from animal foods.
44% of children worldwide do not get fruits or vegetables to eat.
Source: Unicef
SPIEGEL: Whether hungry or overweight: most often it hits children and young people of the poorest and most disadvantaged groups, even in wealthy countries like the United Kingdom.
Kupka: Currently, the rate of obese children is highest in southern European countries such as Italy. We never expected that. The Mediterranean diet is considered to be very healthy, but so hardly anyone feeds there. Homemade pasta is fine, but the lasagne from the freezer is not for a balanced diet. Finished products ensure early harm to children, which extends well into adulthood. Obesity also means an increased risk of developing chronic illnesses or mental health problems.
SPIEGEL: The number of starving people sank for years. Is overweight now the bigger threat?
Kupka: That's right: in the field of malnutrition, we are making progress, but not fast enough. And there are areas where we used to have a lack of food and where overweight is the bigger danger today.
SPIEGEL: You have been a nutrition expert for Unicef for more than a decade. How desperate are you personally about such numbers?
Kupka: Of course there is a certain amount of frustration. But I did not give up hope. Deterioration is more my motivation to do more.
This article is part of the project Global Society, for which our reporters report from four continents. The project is long-term and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the project Global Society?
Under the title Global Society, reporters from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will be reporting on injustices in a globalized world, socio-political challenges and sustainable development. The reportages, analyzes, photo galleries, videos and podcasts appear in the Politics Department of SPIEGEL. The project is long-term and will be supported over three years by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Are the journalistic contents independent of the foundation?
Yes. The editorial content is created without the influence of the Gates Foundation.
Do other media have similar projects?
Yes. Major European media such as "The Guardian" and "El País" have created similar sections on their news pages with "Global Development" or "Planeta Futuro" with the support of the Gates Foundation.
Was there already similar projects at SPIEGEL ONLINE?
SPIEGEL ONLINE has already implemented two projects in recent years with the European Journalism Center (EJC) and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The "Expedition The Day After tomorrow" on Global Sustainability Goals and the journalistic refugee project "The New Arrivals" Several award-winning multimedia reports on the topics of migration and escape have emerged.
Where can I find all the publications on the Global Society?
The pieces can be found at SPIEGEL ONLINE on the topic page Global Society.