Double burden of malnutrition: the Vietnamese perspective

In addition to the burden of undernutrition, many recent studies in Vietnam demonstrate that overweight/obesity and a number of nutritionally-related chronic diseases (NRCD) (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases) are on the rise at an alarming rate. This could be the result of dietary and life style changes. The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) - a typical phenomenon during nutrition transition in developing countries, has been clearly reported in our country. Controlling nutritional deficiencies and newly emerging nutrition problems to reduce the double burden of malnutrition in Vietnam requires comprehensive and appropriate measures as set out in the National Nutrition Strategy 2001 - 2010, as well as a greater research effort on transitional nutrition.