Nutrition and health in South-East Asia

Poor nutrition remains a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in South-East Asia. Manifestations of this include protein-energy malnutrition, iodine deficiency diseases, vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency and some non-communicable diseases of adults. The extent of these diseases, and their interactions with infection, make nutrition the single most important modifiable host factor underlying health status in the region. It is vital that long-term sustainable programs for the control of nutrition problems are accorded a high priority within the health sector.