Nutrition experts are sounding alarms about the escalating cost of a healthy diet in Nigeria, warning that if no immediate action is taken, severe malnutrition could become widespread, especially among children under five.
Before the current economic downturn, over 50% of women of reproductive age already struggled to afford a nutritious diet. This issue has been exacerbated by the recent economic crisis, aligning with recent findings from the National Bureau of Statistics.
PUNCH Healthwise previously reported that the cost of a healthy diet for Nigerians surged from N858 in January to N1,241 by June 2024.
The NBS, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, revealed a 45% increase in CoHD over the first six months of the year.
During this period, general inflation and food inflation rose to 33% and 40%, respectively. Additionally, the June figure represented a 19% increase from the N1,041 reported in May 2024.
The World Bank defines the CoHD as the cost of purchasing the least expensive locally available foods needed to meet dietary guidelines, adjusted for current purchasing power.
The report highlighted that the price increases were primarily driven by vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and starchy staples, with the latter seeing the smallest month-on-month rise.
In exclusive interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, nutrition experts expressed grave concerns about the 45% hike in the cost of a healthy diet, emphasizing its severe implications for both adults and young children.
Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at the Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, James Oloyede, warned that the unaffordability of a healthy diet could lead to severe acute malnutrition and wasting in young children, as there are no viable substitutes for a nutritious diet.
According to the World Health Organisation, severe acute malnutrition is characterized by very low weight-for-height, weight-for-length, clinical signs of bilateral pitting oedema, or a very low mid-upper arm circumference.
SAM affects about 19 million children under five globally and is responsible for approximately 400,000 child deaths annually.
Oloyede further explained that inability to afford a nutritious diet means missing out on essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.
This, he noted, results in malnutrition, which manifests in three major forms.
He said, “Even before the current economic crisis, over 50 per cent of women of reproductive age could not afford a healthy diet in the country. A study on the food nutrient gap in Nigeria found that no more than 50 per cent of women can afford a nutritious diet.
“When individuals do not consume an adequate, high-quality diet, it leads to undernutrition. For children, this results in acute wasting, where the child’s weight is significantly lower than expected for their height.
“Acute wasting is akin to a death sentence, as it represents severe acute malnutrition. Without timely intervention, such children are at high risk of mortality, leading to an increase in under-five mortality rates.
“If these children are of school age, they will be underweight, which compromises various aspects of their health. Reduced immunity is one consequence, making them more susceptible to infections and diseases.
“With weakened immunity, they are more likely to contract illnesses, leading to increased medical expenses. In an economic crisis, when people cannot afford medication, the situation can deteriorate further. Without proper care, this can escalate to more severe health issues or even death.”
Oloyede highlighted that the rising costs making healthy diets less accessible could lead to micronutrient deficiencies, often referred to as hidden hunger. He emphasized that micronutrients are crucial for accelerating metabolism and supporting the body’s healing processes.
He also pointed out that such a situation might lead to overnutrition, which may seem counterintuitive during a food crisis. However, overnutrition occurs when people consume an unhealthy diet that is high in energy but low in essential nutrients. This imbalance can cause the body to store excess energy, resulting in overweight and obesity.
Oloyede said, “Obesity is linked to various communicable diseases, including cardiovascular issues and diabetes, which can also impact productivity. Additionally, there is a risk of severe anaemia due to poor nutritional intake.
“They become easily fatigued. For school-aged children, this translates into poor concentration and reduced performance. If a pregnant woman’s diet is deficient, her baby may suffer from mental disabilities, some of which could be irreversible while others might be reversible.
“Deficiencies during the crucial early weeks of pregnancy can lead to lower IQ in children, potentially causing stunted growth that persists into later life.
“Stunting can be likened to a ‘life sentence,’ whereas wasting is akin to a ‘death sentence.’ In both cases, the child’s potential is severely compromised due to inadequate nutrition.”
Supporting this perspective, Mary Mgbekem, a nutritionist and professor at the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Calabar in Cross River State, underscored that both adults and children who cannot afford a healthy diet will experience malnutrition.
Mgbekem noted that malnutrition does not always manifest in its extreme form with visible protruding bones, but can appear in various ways.
She explained, “When certain nutrients are missing from the diet, deficiencies develop in the body. In nutritional assessment, there are four major methods to evaluate malnutrition. The first is anthropometric measurement, which involves checking measurements such as height and weight.
“If I’m supposed to weigh 60 kg but due to an inability to afford food, my weight drops to 45 kg, am I healthy? Even if my height remains the same and I continue going about my daily activities, the significant weight loss indicates a problem. Similarly, some people may appear obese due to poor nutrition.
“When a person consistently eats only one type of food, you cannot expect them to be healthy. For instance, when someone’s waist is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body, it’s a sign of obesity.
“The second method of nutritional assessment is biochemical measurement. This involves analysing blood, urine, saliva, and stool to determine if there are deficiencies in essential nutrients. Chronic deficiencies can place significant stress on the body.”
