International Symposium on Understanding Moderate Malnutrition in Children for Effective Interventions

Undernutrition, already one of the world’s most serious health problems, is at risk of worsening as the global economy deteriorates. This symposium will focus on the management (prevention and treatment) of moderate wasting or moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).

Main Topics are:

1. Review of current knowledge, evidence gaps and further research needs in relation to the prevention and treatment of MAM

2. Experiences with the prevention of MAM during lean seasons and emergencies (using local foods, supplementary foods, cash), challenges faced and lessons learned

3. Experiences with the prevention of MAM during the first 1000 days, challenges faced and lessons learned

4. Experiences with community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), challenges faced and lessons learned

5. Experiences with the decision-making tool for the prevention and treatment of MAM in emergencies being developed by the MAM Task Force of the GNC

6. Effects of prevention and treatment of MAM on growth, body composition and functional outcomes (including stunting) and methodological challenges in impact assessment

7. Capacity development in the management of MAM.  

8. Composition, acceptability and use of supplementary foods for the management of MAM

9. Lessons learned from SAM management: composition, intake and use of ready-to-use foods

10. Challenges in the management of MAM in infants aged up to 6 months 

11. Hot topics in research related to MAM (gut inflammation and enteropathy in MAM; influence of microbiome on the development of malnutrition/Malawi twin study; the role of metabolomics in improving knowledge on the physiopathology of MAM and supporting new strategies for the prevention and treatment of MAM; long term effects of early rapid weight gain in moderately wasted children with regard to the risk of becoming overweight or obese in later life and developing non-communicable diseases).

The symposium will provide an opportunity to review the latest developments in the field of management of MAM. The target audience comprises:

• Public health nutritionists
• Health professionals
• Policymakers in health and nutrition
• United Nations agencies such as the WHO, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund
• National and international organizations involved in the management of moderate malnutrition
• The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, including SUN national representatives
• Private sector
• Institutes and universities that have research programmes on moderate malnutrition