ABSTRACT
Nearly three decades of research support a strong relationship between the complex biological processes that can occur during the first 1,000 days of life and the resulting multiple burdens of malnutrition, including undernutrition, overweight and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies. Nutrition-specific interventions primarily target the immediate causes of undernutrition: inadequate dietary intake and diseases. The first 1,000 days of life is the window of opportunity to influence child growth, nutritional status, and cognitive development. A single intervention to alleviate early childhood stunting can have significant small to moderate effects. Working through multiple sectors simultaneously can leverage synergies and catalyze gains extending beyond achievements through sector-specific programs that work in isolation. Agriculture has instead had substantive impact on economic growth by enhancing farm productivity and food availability. Social protection programs target the immediate and underlying causes of maternal and child undernutrition. Poor pregnancy outcomes are the second leading cause of mortality in adolescent girls.
