Publication of results of the national nutritional census

After 10 years, Vietnam has achieved many achievements in nutrition. However, we still face some challenges such as overweight, obesity in children or increasing meat consumption …

The National Nutrition Survey is conducted every 10 years, implemented by the National Institute of Nutrition in cooperation with the General Statistics Office, and is supported by many international organizations.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, this Census (2019 – 2020) has the largest scale ever in the country, with the participation of 22,400 households in 25 provinces, represents 6 ecological regions.

The research team has simultaneously collected indicators on anthropology, micronutrients, individual diets, as well as information on food security and food safety and hygiene.

Information at the Conference to announce the results of the National Nutrition Census held on the morning of April 15, Prof. Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition said, the census results showed that after 10 years Vietnam has achieved many achievements in nutrition such as growth in height, reduction of the rate of stunting and malnutrition …

However, we still face many challenges such as increasing the rate of overweight, obesity in children or rapid increase in meat consumption …

Prof. Le Danh Tuyen, Director of National Institute of Nutrition presented the results of the National Nutrition Survey 2019-2020 – Photo: Nguyen Lien

Seven main results are announced after the National Nutrition Census:

Meat consumption increased rapidly, the amount of vegetables and fruits consumed was small

According to survey results, the average energy in Vietnamese diets is 2,023 kcal / person / day, a slight increase compared to 1,925 kcal / person / day in 2010. Structure of energy generation from protein, lipids and glucide (2020) is: 15.8% – 20.2% – 64% (compared with total energy intake). This structure is considered balanced as recommended for the Vietnamese people.

The average level of consumption of vegetables and fruits per capita increased from 190.4g vegetables / person / day; 60.9g of ripe fruit / person / day (2010) to 231.0g of vegetables / person / day; 140.7g ripe fruit / person / day (2020). However, this consumption is only about 66.4 – 77.4% compared with the recommended requirement of the Nutrition Tower for adults.

Meanwhile, meat consumption increased rapidly: from 84g / person / day (average meat consumption nationwide in 2010) to 136.4g / person / day (by 2020); consumption in urban areas is higher, at 155.3g / person / day (2020).

Rice consumption tends to decrease. There is a growing trend in city schools to increase the consumption of soft drinks and fast foods.

The rate of stunting in children under 5 years old has reached average level

From the survey results, the rate of stunting (height / age) among children under 5 years old nationwide is 19.6%, which is ranked at the average level according to World Health Organization classification ( level below 20%).

Thus, up to now, Vietnam is on track to achieve the Global Nutrition Target (reducing 40% of child stunting malnutrition by 2025). However, there are still disparities between regions in terms of stunting rates of undernutrition. In rural and mountainous areas, this rate is still high.

Achieved height of Vietnamese youth

According to the research team, the height of Vietnamese people has significantly changed in the group of 18-year-old male youth (reaching 168.1cm in 2020, an increase of 3.7cm compared to 2010: 164.4cm), and young female (reaching 156 2cm in 2020, an increase of 1.4cm compared to 2010: 154.8cm).

The rate of overweight and obese children increases rapidly

The rate of overweight and obesity among school-age children (5-19 years old) increases from 8.5% in 2010 to 19% by 2020. In which, the rate of overweight and obesity in urban areas is 26, 8%, 18.3% in rural areas and 6.9% in mountainous areas.

The rate of stunting in school age is 14.8% (in 2010, this rate was 23.4%).

Deficiency of micronutrients

The results of the Census show that the lack of micronutrients of the Vietnamese people has improved significantly. The prevalence of preclinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia was mild in the public health significance (only for pregnant women, the rate of anemia was moderate). The incidence of preclinical vitamin A deficiency in children 6-59 months decreased. However, zinc deficiency remains high, especially in high-risk subjects such as children and mothers.

About zinc deficiency:Nationally, the rate of zinc deficiency in children aged 6-59 months decreased to 58%, in pregnant women decreased to 63.5%, but remained at a significant level of public health significance according to WHO assessment.

This rate is still very high for children aged 6-59 months in the Northern Uplands (67.7%) and Central Highlands (66.6%) and even higher for pregnant women in the mountainous areas. the North (81.9%) and the Central Highlands (63.9%).

Especially in the metropolitan area for the past 5 years (2015-2020), the rate of zinc deficiency in children 6-59 months old has a high level of public health significance (49.6%) and almost no improvement.

About Vitamin A deficiency: The prevalence of preclinical vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-59 months across the country decreased at the mild community significance level (9.5%). This proportion is still highest in the Northern Uplands (13.8%) and the Central Highlands (11.0%).

The prevalence of preclinical vitamin A deficiency in children aged 5-9 years is 4.9%, at a mild level of public health significance as assessed by WHO.

Intervention of high dose vitamin A capsules has been implemented for many decades, but the incidence of preclinical vitamin A deficiency in children 6-59 months of age has remained mild and has decreased slowly in recent years.

About anemia: The rate of anemia among children aged 6-59 months nationwide decreased at the community significance level of 19.6%. This proportion is still highest in the Northern Uplands (23.4%) and the Central Highlands (26.3%).

Rate of anemia in children 5-9 years old (9.2%); in children 10-14 years old (8.4%), are at the level of mild public health significance according to WHO assessment.

Rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months

According to the collected data, the proportion of infants exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months improved significantly, increasing from 19.6% (2010) to 45.4% (2020). In which, in urban areas, this rate is 55.7%, rural areas 40.3% and mountainous rural areas 42.7%.

Knowledge and practice of food safety

The proportion of people with correct food safety knowledge and practices improved significantly: 35.8% of the respondents had good knowledge; 55.6% had average knowledge and only 8.6% had poor knowledge.

Regarding food poisoning treatment: 78% of respondents choose to send patients to medical facilities for treatment compared with 44.9% in 2010; The proportion of people having access to official food safety information has also doubled compared with the 2010 survey.

Assessing the results of the implementation of the National Strategy on Nutrition for the period 2011-2020, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said that Vietnam has basically achieved the goal of reducing the malnutrition of young mothers. children.

However, we have not yet met the indicators related to improving micronutrient deficiency, overweight and obesity control in adults and some indicators related to improving capacity to implement the Strategy. .

Mr. Tuyen emphasized that, with the results of the General Nutrition Survey announced this time, we will have orientations to develop the Strategy for the new phase, specifically:

– Increasing investment in essential nutritional interventions during the 1,000 golden days, including nutrition before / during pregnancy, nutrition for breastfeeding mothers, breastfeeding and complementary food. Integrate nutritional interventions in ensuring universal health coverage.

Efforts are being made to address the rapidly growing overweight and obesity among children, adolescents and adults. An approach to the entire food system is needed in response to urbanization and the challenges of the food system, helping people access a healthy and healthy diet. There is a need to improve legislation governing food and diet systems, in conjunction with targeted poverty reduction measures and changing eating behavior among specific population groups.

– Strategic investment and system restructuring are needed to achieve greater equity among ethnic minorities and mountainous areas. At the same time, there should be specific nutritional improvement targets for ethnic minorities and disadvantaged areas.

– It is necessary to shift nutrition from being seen as a medical issue to multidisciplinary engagement and participation. Integrating nutritional strategy into the mandate of other key industries can only change with institutional reform, allowing high-level convening, engagement, and coordination across sectors to address underlying causes. of different forms of malnutrition.