Diet Quality, Child Health and Food Policies in Developing Countries

World Bank Research Observer (in press Forthcoming)

Posted: 1 Oct 2014

See all articles by Alok Bhargava

Alok Bhargava

University of Maryland School of Public Policy

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: September 29, 2014

Abstract

While the importance of diet quality for improving child health is widely recognized, the roles of environmental factors and absorption of nutrients for children’s physical growth and morbidity have not been adequately integrated into a policy framework. Moreover, nutrient intakes gradually affect child health so that it is helpful to use alternative tools for evaluation of short-term interventions versus long-term food policies. This article emphasizes the role of diet quality reflected in the intakes of nutrients such as protein, calcium, and iron for children’s physical growth; vitamins A and C are important for reducing morbidity. Children’s growth and morbidity affect their cognitive development that is critical for future supply of skilled labor and economic growth. Evidence on these issues from countries such as Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Philippines and Tanzania is summarized. The supply of nutritious foods is appraised from the viewpoint of improving diet quality. Finally, the roles of educational campaigns and indirect taxes on unhealthy processed foods consumed by the affluent in developing countries are discussed.

Keywords: economic development, food policies, diet quality, child health, morbidity, cognitive development, livestock production, educational campaigns, indirect taxation

JEL Classification: O12, I15, I25, J10, Q01, Q18

Suggested Citation

Bhargava, Alok, Diet Quality, Child Health and Food Policies in Developing Countries (September 29, 2014). World Bank Research Observer (in press Forthcoming), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2502888

Alok Bhargava (Contact Author)

University of Maryland School of Public Policy ( email )

Van Munching Hall
College Park, MD 20742
United States
301 405 6330 (Phone)

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