Investing in children's nutrition. The economic benefits

This policy brief is a reminder of the the consequences of child malnutrition, which is the first cause of child mortality and prevents those who live to reach their full potential where they become adults. The economic costs of child malnutrition and its impacts on the long run, which are transmitted from generation to generation, are also presented in the document: high cost of child mortality, compromised school achievement of undernourished children, severe impact on their adult life in terms of productivity loss, income, health problems, and impact on economic growth. As such, investing in children nutrition leads to significant economic benefits, on both the short and the long run, by contributing in particular to an increased cost-effectiveness of investments in health and education.

 Save the Children - April 2010