Chijioke Iremeka
Nutrition experts have warned that the rising cost of a healthy diet in Nigeria could lead to severe malnutrition among Nigerians with children under five mostly at risk if immediate action is not taken.
They asserted that before the current economic crisis, over 50 per cent of women of reproductive age struggled to afford a healthy diet.
The nutritionists said that the situation is further compounded by the recent economic crisis in the country which now agrees with the recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics.
PUNCH Healthwise had earlier reported that the June ‘Cost of Healthy Diet’ report produced by the NBS and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, indicated that the average cost of a healthy diet for a Nigerian adult rose from ₦858 in January to ₦1,241 by June 2024.https://healthwise.punchng.com/cost-of-healthy-diet-rose-to-n1241-per-adult-in-june-nbs-report/
The report revealed a 45 per cent increase in the CoHD over the first six months of 2024.
During the same period, general inflation and food inflation climbed to 33 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.
Additionally, the NBS noted that the June figure was 19 per cent higher than the ₦1,041 per adult per day reported in May 2024.
According to the World Bank, the CoHD reflects the expense of purchasing the least expensive locally available foods required to meet energy and food-based dietary guidelines, adjusted for current purchasing power parities.
The report noted that the main drivers of the increase in CoHD were vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and starchy staples. Among these, starchy staples experienced the smallest month-on-month price increase.
In exclusive interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the nutrition experts expressed deep concerns about the 45 per cent rise in the cost of a healthy diet, highlighting its severe implications for adults and children under five.
Dr James Oloyede
The Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, James Oloyede, noted that the unaffordability of a healthy diet could lead to severe acute malnutrition and wasting in young children, as there are no viable substitutes for a nutritious diet.
According to the World Health Organisation, severe acute malnutrition is defined by a very low weight-for-height, weight-for-length, or clinical signs of bilateral pitting oedema, or a very low mid-upper arm circumference.
It adds that SAM affects about 19 million children under 5 years of age worldwide and is estimated to account for approximately 400,000 child deaths each year.
Speaking further, Oloyede explained that when people cannot afford a healthy diet, they fail to obtain the necessary nutrients in the required proportions and quantities for healthy and optimal development.
He asserted that this leads to malnutrition, which manifests in three major forms.
He said, “Even before the current economic crisis, over 50 per cent of women of reproductive age could not afford a healthy diet in the country. A study on the food nutrient gap in Nigeria found that no more than 50 per cent of women can afford a nutritious diet.
“When individuals do not consume an adequate, high-quality diet, it leads to undernutrition. For children, this results in acute wasting, where the child’s weight is significantly lower than expected for their height.
“Acute wasting is akin to a death sentence, as it represents severe acute malnutrition. Without timely intervention, such children are at high risk of mortality, leading to an increase in under-five mortality rates.
“If these children are of school age, they will be underweight, which compromises various aspects of their health. Reduced immunity is one consequence, making them more susceptible to infections and diseases.
“With weakened immunity, they are more likely to contract illnesses, leading to increased medical expenses. In an economic crisis, when people cannot afford medication, the situation can deteriorate further. Without proper care, this can escalate to more severe health issues or even death.”
Oloyede noted that the inaccessibility to a healthy diet due to rising costs can lead to micronutrient deficiencies, often called hidden hunger, insisting that micronutrients are essential for speeding up metabolism and aiding the body’s healing processes.
He noted that this situation can also result in overnutrition, emphasising that overnutrition may seem counterintuitive during a food crisis, but occurs when people consume an unhealthy diet, often high in energy but lacking in essential nutrients.
The nutritionist stated this imbalance can cause the body to accumulate unused energy, leading to overweight and obesity.
He said, “Obesity is linked to various communicable diseases, including cardiovascular issues and diabetes, which can also impact productivity. Additionally, there is a risk of severe anaemia due to poor nutritional intake.
“They become easily fatigued. For school-aged children, this translates into poor concentration and reduced performance. If a pregnant woman’s diet is deficient, her baby may suffer from mental disabilities, some of which could be irreversible while others might be reversible.
“Deficiencies during the crucial early weeks of pregnancy can lead to lower IQ in children, potentially causing stunted growth that persists into later life.
“Stunting can be likened to a ‘life sentence,’ whereas wasting is akin to a ‘death sentence.’ In both cases, the child’s potential is severely compromised due to inadequate nutrition.”
Corroborating this, a nutritionist and professor at the Department of Nursing Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Mary Mgbekem, emphasised that both adults and children who cannot afford a healthy diet will suffer from malnutrition.
Mgbekem highlighted that malnutrition did not always appear in the extreme form with visible protruding bones, emphasising that it can manifest in different ways.
She explained, “When certain nutrients are missing from the diet, deficiencies develop in the body. In nutritional assessment, there are four major methods to evaluate malnutrition. The first is anthropometric measurement, which involves checking measurements such as height and weight.
“If I’m supposed to weigh 60 kg but due to an inability to afford food, my weight drops to 45 kg, am I healthy? Even if my height remains the same and I continue going about my daily activities, the significant weight loss indicates a problem. Similarly, some people may appear obese due to poor nutrition.
“When a person consistently eats only one type of food, you cannot expect them to be healthy. For instance, when someone’s waist is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body, it’s a sign of obesity.
“The second method of nutritional assessment is biochemical measurement. This involves analysing blood, urine, saliva, and stool to determine if there are deficiencies in essential nutrients. Chronic deficiencies can place significant stress on the body.”
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: healthwise@punchng.com
The post Malnutrition looms as hardship denies Nigerians healthy diets appeared first on Healthwise.