This represents an increase of 122 million people compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The new findings also show how consumption of highly processed foods is also increasing in peri-urban and rural areas of some countries. Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 33 percent of adults living in rural areas and 26 percent in urban areas. We cannot take a business-as-usual approach.”Children’s malnutrition also displays urban and rural specificities: the prevalence of child stunting is higher in rural areas (35.8 percent) than in urban areas (22.4 percent). Wasting is higher in rural areas (10.5 percent) than in urban areas (7.7 percent), while overweight is slightly more prevalent in urban areas (5.4 percent) compared to rural areas (3.5 percent).

Source: News Business Ethiopia July 12, 2023 20:46 UTC