Nutritional Risk Factors
Anemia persists, and trans-fatty acid policies lag globally.
Global trends in the prevalence of anemia among all women 15–49 years of age show no significant change from 31.2% in 2000 to 29.9% in 2019. Meanwhile, trans-fatty acid (TFA) policies now cover 55% of the global population, but full elimination remains unmet.
Insights
Political: Nutrition is often siloed in policy, limiting cross-sector accountability. Only 69 countries have implemented mandatory TFA limits.
Economic: Poor nutrition—whether from anemia or TFA consumption—leads to long-term productivity losses, especially among women of working age.
Social: Nutritional inequalities persist, particularly among women in low-income settings where dietary diversity is limited and iron supplementation access is poor.
Technological: Fortification, reformulation, and digital dietary monitoring offer scalable solutions, but uptake remains uneven.
Legal: More countries are adopting mandatory national limits and bans on TFAs, but global coverage is still incomplete. Efforts to reduce anemia also face challenges due to the absence of enforceable international standards.
Environmental: Food systems shaped by climate and supply chain disruptions can limit access to micronutrient-rich foods and increase reliance on ultra-processed, TFA-heavy options.
Reflective Questions
How might we accelerate progress on both anemia reduction and TFA elimination?
What innovations could close data and delivery gaps in women’s nutrition across life stages?
How can global food regulation align with health targets to phase out harmful ingredients while supporting dietary diversity?
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References:
World Health Organization, n.d. WHO global anaemia estimates, 2021 edition. The global health observatory [online database]. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/anaemia_in_women_and_children
World Health Organization, in press. Countdown to 2023: WHO 5-year milestone report on global trans fat elimination 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization.
