Population Growth and Global Nutrition: Implications for Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the implications of population growth for global nutrition, and how nutrition interventions can support universal health coverage (UHC) and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The article uses a systematic review of literature to analyze the relationships between population dynamics and nutrition outcomes across different regions and contexts. The findings show that population growth poses significant challenges for food systems, health systems and environmental sustainability, and that malnutrition in all its forms undermines human development and well-being. The article also highlights the opportunities and benefits of integrating nutrition into UHC and the SDGs and proposes a set of policy and programmatic actions to achieve nutrition equity. The article contributes to the existing knowledge on population-nutrition linkages and provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners working on health and development issues. The article also suggests some practical implications for improving nutrition service delivery, financing, governance and accountability within health systems and beyond.