Addressing overweight and obesity in LMICs in rural development and food systems: A comprehensive literature review

Healthy diets are a cornerstone of good health, while unhealthy diets can lead to reduced immune responses, impaired physical and mental development, Non-Communicable Diseases and reduced productivity. Poor nutrition comes in multiple forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, and overweight and obesity.

This literature review explores how IFAD can contribute to food system transformation and mitigate the rising incidence of overweight and obesity in low and middle-income countries. This study deepens the knowledge on how agriculture and food value chains can address overweight and obesity within a food systems context, and how IFAD can apply these insights in its investments.