GAIN and partners are organising the World Health Assembly, WHA76 side event "Joining Forces to Improve Adolescent Nutrition" which calls for greater investment in adolescent nutrition and support to WHO member states to develop policies and programmes that support healthy diets and lifestyles.
The event will build on findings from the recently launched UNICEF report, "Undernourished and Overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women". This report depicts a bleak picture of the stark reality of the state of nutrition in adolescents. No region is on track to meet the 2030 global targets to reduce anaemia (UNICEF) and rates of obesity are rising more rapidly among children than adults (World Obesity Federation) as the lure of unhealthy food is contributing to unhealthier diets.
It’s never easy being a teenager, and even harder for this generation growing up in times of unprecedented change. In the shadow of COVID, conflict, and climate change, today’s adolescents are facing additional challenges in getting the right food and nutrition to help them thrive. By improving nutrition and supporting healthy food behaviors during adolescence, we can help ensure that young people have the foundation they need to lead healthy and productive lives.
During this event, there will be will discussions on how to place topics concerning youth, including adolescent nutrition, higher up on the national food systems agenda and explore how we can create healthy food environments that help adolescents thrive.