La dieta y los problemas de malnutrición en Colombia

Abstract

The malnourishment is a condition derived from excessive intake of macronutrients or, the reduced consumption of macronutrients such as vitamins and minerals (Benjumea, Estrada and Álvarez, 2006). This situation is against what is called Food and Nutritional Security (SAN in Spanish) which relates to the efficient supply of proper foods in terms of quality and quantity, enough to satisfy the metabolic needs and allow a healthy life (Duarte and Vargas, 2015). As stated previously, the diet has a great influence over the development of illnesses such as malnourishment, overweight and obesity, besides of disorders associated with low vitamin and mineral absorption such as anemia (Duarte and Vargas, 2015) The food security indicators used by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations (UN), the Colombian Family Welfare Institution (ICBF), the National Survey of Nutritional Situation (ENSIN), and other organisms, proving that, from the start of the year 2000, the developing nations including Colombia, have experimented an accelerated reduction regarding to the undernourishment meanwhile the hypernutrition rates have been slightly increasing, mainly affecting people under poverty and vulnerability conditions. Hence, when guaranteeing a proper feeding within the population, it is fundamental to ensure the access to a balanced diet, meeting the standards of quality and quantity which would allow lead a healthy life. Therefore, it is essential educate in order to create social awareness when choosing and exercising the right to food.