Actions against the double burden of malnutrition in Peru: a community-informed system dynamics model
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
Peru's progress in reducing stunting has stagnated since 2018, while the country is facing increasing levels of overnutrition, leading to a double burden of malnutrition. However, this shift in nutrition burden is not reflected in Peru's nutrition policy agenda. This study aims to identify leverage points for actions against population-level double burden of malnutrition in Peru.
Methods
We developed a system dynamics model that simulates changes in overweight and stunting over time in Peru through changes in food system drivers. The model was conceptually informed by policymakers, practitioners and community members in Peru and used quantitative and qualitative data from secondary sources and published literature.
Findings
The model indicated that several overnutrition policies, including policies targeting food availability and affordability, may decelerate but not halt the increase of overweight in the country, mainly due to industry resistance. However, in the long term, the reallocation of resources towards overnutrition policies may inadvertently hinder progress towards stunting targets. Transforming nutrition policy governance, from siloed overnutrition and undernutrition policies towards a common policy framework against the double burden of malnutrition was the only modelled scenario that halted the rise in overnutrition, while keeping Peru on course to reach its stunting goals.
Interpretation
Transition away from policy landscapes that focus on single nutrition outcomes towards synergistic actions that target malnutrition in all forms is a long-term solution towards achieving global nutrition goals. Such policy transitions are especially important in low and middle-income countries like Peru, which are affected by the double burden of malnutrition.
Funding
This study was supported by a research grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (grant reference: BB/T009004/1).
Peru's progress in reducing stunting has stagnated since 2018, while the country is facing increasing levels of overnutrition, leading to a double burden of malnutrition. However, this shift in nutrition burden is not reflected in Peru's nutrition policy agenda. This study aims to identify leverage points for actions against population-level double burden of malnutrition in Peru.
Methods
We developed a system dynamics model that simulates changes in overweight and stunting over time in Peru through changes in food system drivers. The model was conceptually informed by policymakers, practitioners and community members in Peru and used quantitative and qualitative data from secondary sources and published literature.
Findings
The model indicated that several overnutrition policies, including policies targeting food availability and affordability, may decelerate but not halt the increase of overweight in the country, mainly due to industry resistance. However, in the long term, the reallocation of resources towards overnutrition policies may inadvertently hinder progress towards stunting targets. Transforming nutrition policy governance, from siloed overnutrition and undernutrition policies towards a common policy framework against the double burden of malnutrition was the only modelled scenario that halted the rise in overnutrition, while keeping Peru on course to reach its stunting goals.
Interpretation
Transition away from policy landscapes that focus on single nutrition outcomes towards synergistic actions that target malnutrition in all forms is a long-term solution towards achieving global nutrition goals. Such policy transitions are especially important in low and middle-income countries like Peru, which are affected by the double burden of malnutrition.
Funding
This study was supported by a research grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (grant reference: BB/T009004/1).
Date Issued
2025-06-01
Date Acceptance
2025-04-05
Citation
The Lancet Regional Health. Americas, 2025, 46
ISSN
2667-193X
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
The Lancet Regional Health. Americas
Volume
46
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
Double burden of malnutrition
Double-duty actions
Peru
System dynamics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
101102
Date Publish Online
2025-04-21