Food, nutrition, and health
Healthy diets and good nutrition are critical to health and development for all ages. Better nutrition is linked to improved infant, child, and maternal health; lower risk of illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease; higher productivity and income; and longevity. However, low-income and socially marginalized communities are less likely to have easy access to affordable, safe and nutritious food and are likely to have to travel further to access fresh fruit and vegetables. The exposure of marginalized communities to corporate activity, such as marketing of unhealthy foods, high in sugar and salt, and of sugarsweetened beverages also exacerbates poor nutrition. Currently, 47 million children under the age of 5 years are too thin for their height , while another 38.3 million children under the age of 5 years are overweight. Single parents or lowincome households often do not have the time or money to provide a healthy diet and purchase (often cheaper) junk food high in salt, su...