# **4 Discussion**

As countries address the SDGs and start to design strategies, the interconnectedness between the SDGs becomes more apparent and the need to assess the different outcomes is critical. The relationship between the different SDGs, i.e., poverty reduction (SDG1), zero hunger and zero malnutrition (SDG2), health (SDG3) and climate (SDG13) is complex and involves trade-offs, which often is not fully appreciated.

## **4.1 Food and nutrition situation in Bangladesh**

Bangladesh has made significant progress over the last 20 years to reduce rates of malnutrition among its population and is on its way to meeting SDG2 <mark>“End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.</mark> Yet, poor nutrition continues to be an important challenge and further progress is needed to ensure all Bangladeshis can achieve their highest potential <mark>(Cabinet Division of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and WFP 2019)</mark> . Despite progress, many Bangladeshis are still affected by malnutrition and the country increasingly faces a combined burden of wasting, stunting, overweight and micronutrient deficiencies. In 2019, 28 percent of children under the age of five were stunted as compared to 42 percent in 2013 (BBS and UNICEF 2014 and 2019), 10 percent were still wasted, and 2 percent suffered from overweight. In addition, in 2018, 32 percent of women and 18 percent of men were found to be overweight or obese (NIPORT and ICF 2020). Among those, 7 percent of women, including 1 percent of girls 15-19 years old, and 2 percent of men were found to be obese (NIPORT and ICF 2020). Undernutrition and overweight / obesity are serious nutrition risks that can lead to poor health outcomes, including an increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In 2018, NCDs were linked to 67 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh (WHO 2018).

In addition, Bangladeshis are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiencies. While data remains sparse, in 2011-12, the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and anemia was 20 and 19 percent in preschool-aged children respectively, 21 and 17 percent in school-aged children, and 5 and 26 percent in non-pregnant non-lactating women respectively (ICDDR’B, UNICEF, GAIN, IPHN, 2013). Additionally, the national prevalence of zinc deficiency was 45 percent in pre-school-aged children, and 57 percent for non-pregnant and non-lactating women (ICDDR’B, UNICEF, GAIN, IPHN, 2013).

The quality of Bangladeshi diets has moderately improved and in the past twenty years, the proportion of severely food insecure households has decreased from 21 percent in 2000 to 11 percent in 2018-2020 (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO 2021). In 2019, 38 percent of children of 6 to 23 months had adequate dietary diversity as compared to 24 percent in 2011 (NIPORT and ICF 2020). In addition, the share of dietary energy consumption from cereals, roots and tubers has reduced from 81 percent in 2005 to 78 percent in 2017<sup>12</sup> with rice as the most frequently consumed staple. Despite a reduction in the share of dietary energy consumption from rice from 83% in 1991, rice alone still accounted for 68% of dietary energy consumption in 2016 <mark>(Cabinet Division of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and WFP 2019). T</mark> his proportion is high, also compared to the country’s FBDGs, which recommend that 55 percent of dietary energy comes

> 12 FAOSTAT. FAO Estimates. Last accessed 16/06/2022.

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