FuturesCape Policy Brief: Double Burden of Malnutrition

Research Affiliate Alanna Markle is lead author of a brief that models the economic cost of the high co-occurrence of over-consumption and undernutrition in the Western Cape to 2040. The paper finds that The Western Cape stands to lose R357 billion in household spending from stunting and up to R590 billion from obesity to 2040; this translates to a 5% loss to GDP from foregone spending alone. The brief is being used to advance food security initiatives being spearheaded by the Chief Directorate: Policy and Strategy.