Addressing the Double Burden of Malnutrition in Guatemala

Overview

Globally, populations are experiencing increases in the double burden of malnutrition, commonly defined as maternal overweight/obesity and child stunting in the same household. In this study, we will evaluate how a combined intervention including both counseling for healthy weight in mothers and food supplementation for families can reduce the double burden of malnutrition in rural Guatemala.

Globally, populations are experiencing increases in diseases attributable to overnutrition, but child undernutrition also persists at high levels. This "double burden of malnutrition" commonly appears as maternal overweight/obesity and child stunting in the same household. Poor nutrition during the critical life stages of the pregnancy, the postpartum period, and early childhood increases life-long risk for nutrition-related non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia for both mother and child. Evidence-based interventions exist that promote optimal weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum weight loss or prevent undernutrition among children, but little is known about implementing them as integrated, scalable, intergenerational, affordable, and equity-focused solutions. The overall goal of this project is to assess the effectiveness, implementation, and cost-effectiveness of an integrated intervention to reduce the double burden of malnutrition among pregnant/postpartum women and their children. We will conduct a type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial in rural Guatemalan Indigenous communities that have among the world's highest prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition. Our project will have three parts. In Part 1, we will conduct an individually randomized hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial with 766 pregnant mothers and their children, including both food supplementation and counselling to optimize mothers' gestational weight gain and limit postpartum weight retention. Our primary evaluation will focus on maternal weight and child length at 12 months after birth. In Part 2, we will assess barriers and facilitators to implementation of the integrated DBM intervention and develop strategies to promote widespread implementation. In Part 3, we will conduct an economic evaluation on the integrated nutrition intervention. To our knowledge, this aim will generate the first evidence of costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions to address DBM at the household level, providing crucial information to policymakers and stakeholders for future implementation and budgeting. Overall, this project will generate globally relevant implementation evidence on interventions for the double burden of malnutrition. Results will have implications for nutrition and NCD policy not only in Guatemala but also globally. A major feature of the project is a focus on pragmatism and equity, working to enroll the most vulnerable families from rural Guatemala who stand most to benefit from the intervention but who are commonly excluded from clinical trials.

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Central Contacts