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South Africa faces a hidden nutrition crisis where undernutrition and obesity exist side by side. Understanding balanced diets is key to protecting long-term health across all stages of life.
Why balanced diets matter for long-term health.
Nutrition shapes every stage of life, from how children grow and learn to how adults age and manage chronic disease. In South Africa, however, nutrition challenges are not defined by a single problem. Instead, the country faces a complex and often hidden reality where undernutrition and obesity exist side by side.
This phenomenon is known as the “double burden” of malnutrition, and it reflects a food system where many people consume too little of what their bodies need and too much of what undermines long-term health.
Malnutrition is often associated with hunger, but it takes several forms. Some South Africans do not get enough energy or essential nutrients to meet basic needs. Others consume diets lacking critical vitamins and minerals needed for growth, immunity, and development. At the same time, rising levels of overweight and obesity show that excess calories, often from nutrient-poor foods, are becoming the norm for many households.
South Africa’s nutrition profile reflects all of these trends simultaneously. According to the Global Nutrition Report, progress toward global nutrition targets has been uneven. Child stunting, a marker of chronic undernutrition, remains a serious concern, while adult obesity rates are among the highest in the region.
More than one in five children under the age of five is affected by stunting, meaning their growth has been permanently limited by long-term poor nutrition. At the other end of the spectrum, nearly 43 percent of women and over 18 percent of men are living with obesity, increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other non-communicable conditions.
This combination reflects a nutritional transition. Affordable, highly processed foods have become more accessible, while healthy, diverse diets remain out of reach for many families due to cost, availability, and food environments that do not prioritise nutrition.
Balanced nutrition matters at every stage of life. In early childhood, it supports physical growth and brain development, laying the foundation for learning, productivity, and long-term health. In adulthood, diet plays a central role in preventing or managing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. As people age, adequate nutrient intake helps preserve immunity, bone strength, and cognitive function.
Good nutrition is not only about eating enough food. It is about eating the right combination of foods that provide both energy and essential nutrients. A balanced diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, healthy fats, and sufficient vitamins and minerals. Yet many South Africans rely on energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods that increase the risk of both deficiencies and chronic disease.
Addressing malnutrition in South Africa requires what experts describe as “double-duty actions”. These are interventions that tackle undernutrition and overnutrition at the same time. Nutrition education can help families make informed food choices. Improving food environments can make healthier options more affordable and accessible. Supporting breastfeeding and infant nutrition gives children the best possible start in life. Food system reforms, from production to marketing, can prioritise health over profit. Community initiatives such as food gardens, school nutrition programmes, and cooking skills development can strengthen local resilience.
Nutrition is not solely an individual responsibility. It is shaped by what food is available and affordable, what people know about health, what policies support healthy eating, and how communities and governments prioritise nutrition.
Good nutrition is not a luxury. It is a foundation for healthy children, productive adults, and thriving communities. Addressing South Africa’s hidden burden of malnutrition today is an investment in the country’s future.
Health Team
