Bhutan and UNICEF tackle junk food advertising worsening triple burden of malnutrition

Bhutan and UNICEF have launched a nutrition plan to ensure children grow up strong and healthy, as overweight and obesity are rapidly rising among children in the nation. The announcement follows UNICEF’s latest report on global child nutrition.

“Our future is about our children. If they are undernourished or robbed of their potential before they even turn five, all our national efforts will be for nothing,” says Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of the Royal Government of Bhutan. 

“Nutrition has always been a priority of the government. Nourishing Bhutan – Framework for Action is not just another policy document. It is a bold roadmap to ensure every child grows up healthy, strong, and proud to be Bhutanese.”

Triple burden of malnutrition 

UNICEF’s new report, “Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Children,” flags that children with obesity and overweight, aged five to 19 in Bhutan, have tripled over the past two decades. This means a rise from 6% in 2000 to 18% in 2022, with girls most impacted.

Simultaneously, anemia continues to impact children under five and over a third of adolescent girls.

Other challenges include stunting, wasting, and underweight as a result of undernutrition. UNICEF warns these challenges harm children’s health, learning, and future.

Advertising worsens habits

A 2023 UNICEF survey found that 13 to 24 year olds are growing up with access to saturated and cheap ultra-processed foods, making healthier alternatives more expensive.

Sugar-sweetened beverages, salty snacks, and fast food have become common in this age group. They point out that marketing influences their food choices.

Furthermore, a 2015 national survey revealed poor diet diversity among children — 18% of six to 23 month old children met the minimum standards.

This results from heavy reliance on rice and starchy staples and little consumption of vegetables, fruits, meat, or fish.

Research indicates that animal protein helps early life survival, but links plant-based protein to adult longevity and overall life expectancy.

Massive progress

Despite growing malnutrition UNICEF says Bhutan has made strong progress. In the past ten years stunting under five has halved, falling 18% in 2023.

Most children under five are free from undernutrition, and 90,000 students receive government-supported fortified meals. The government has also boosted feeding programs and launched a “one child one egg” policy, along with increasing iron and folic acid supplements.

Moreover, the government has updated its food and nutrition policy, UNICEF highlights. 

“Too many children in Bhutan are growing up surrounded by unhealthy food that harms their bodies and their confidence. Rising obesity and overweight do not just increase the risk of diabetes or high blood pressure. They also leave children struggling with self-esteem and even bullying,” says Rushnan Murtaza, UNICEF representative in Bhutan. 

“Every child deserves good nutrition to grow, learn, and thrive. This Framework for Action is Bhutan’s promise to give children the healthy future they deserve.”

To maintain progress, UNICEF says Bhutan must invest more in child nutrition, ensure affordable, nutritious meals, and pass stronger laws on marketing unhealthy food. 

Additionally, it must use data and monitor nutrition risks to inform policies and programs, says UNICEF. Technology like AI can help monitor, prevent, and treat malnutrition and promote dietary diversity.

Lastly, it highlights collaboration across ministries, UN agencies, the private sector, communities and young people to combat malnutrition.