47% of children aged 6-59 months suffer from anemia
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has unveiled the results of its national nutrition survey. This survey shows that obesity is gaining ground in Morocco. It is progressing more rapidly in urban than rural areas. According to the main indicators of this 2019-2020 national survey, 28.4% of Moroccan women are obese. This rate is higher in urban than rural areas with respectively 32% and 21.8%. Among the factors involved are junk food, malnutrition, physical inactivity, lack of sporting activity… Changing eating habits is also an aggravating factor (snacks, fast foods,…).
According to the WHO, obesity leads to a series of non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, various forms of cancer, as well as mental health problems. 3,118 households were surveyed. The number of women surveyed rose to 2,286, children aged 6 to 59 months (864) and children aged 6 to 12 years (1,224). The ministry’s survey reveals that 29.2% of women are overweight. They are only 2.3% to be thin (1.7% in urban areas once morest 3.3% in rural areas).
Regarding the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among women of childbearing age, the survey indicates that 34.4% have anemia, 30.3% have iron deficiency, 11.7% have folic acid deficiency and 31.3% have a vitamin D deficiency. In addition, the ministry reveals in its survey that 3.2% of children aged 6 to 59 months are obese and 9.5% are overweight. Also according to the survey, 14.2% have growth retardation (moderate or severe). Stunting is linked to a number of long-term factors including insufficient and chronic protein-energy intake, frequent infections, poor feeding practices over a long period of time and poverty. According to the said survey, 3.1% are underweight (4.4% in rural areas once morest 2.1% in urban areas).
2.4% suffer from wasting, ie a loss of weight significantly below the normal weight of a child of the same height. Wasting is a sign of current or acute malnutrition due to the child not gaining weight or losing weight. The causes are many: insufficient food intake, poor feeding practices, diseases and infections or often a combination of these factors. It should also be noted that 47.5% of children aged 6 to 59 months have anemia (50.8% in urban areas and 43.1% in rural areas), 23.5% have an iron deficiency, 8.8% suffer from vitamin D deficiency and 8% from vitamin D deficiency. As for children aged 6 to 12, 5.4% are obese (8% in urban areas once morest 2.1% in rural areas). ) and 13% are overweight.
Note that 11.3% are stunted and 2.9% suffer from emaciation. Anemia affects 23.8% of children aged 6 to 12 years. It should also be noted that 11.9% have an iron deficiency, 10.9% a vitamin A deficiency, 3.1% a vitamin D deficiency and 21.6% an iodine deficiency. Remember that according to the WHO, obesity is a disease that affects most body systems.
It affects the heart, liver, kidneys, joints and reproductive system. It leads to a series of non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, various forms of cancer, as well as mental health problems.
