Billions Struggle to Afford Healthy Food Despite Escaping Extreme Poverty

A groundbreaking study from the University of Göttingen reveals that 2 to 2.9 billion people worldwide cannot afford a healthy diet, despite living above the extreme poverty line, Earth.com reported. Led by Jonas Stehl, the research highlights that traditional poverty measures fail to account for the cost of nutrient-rich foods, leaving millions vulnerable to malnutrition and diet-related illnesses.

Current poverty benchmarks, such as the World Bank’s income threshold, focus on calorie intake but overlook the need for vitamins, minerals, and proteins. The study emphasizes that healthy diets are often more expensive than low-quality staples, creating a gap that disproportionately affects low-income families.

The consequences extend beyond individuals, impacting societies through increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and stunted childhood development. Researchers urge policymakers to update poverty metrics to include the cost of healthy diets and non-food essentials like housing and healthcare.

Governments and aid groups are encouraged to implement measures such as subsidizing nutritious foods, boosting local production, and providing direct financial support. The study, published in Food Policy, calls for a shift in global poverty assessments to address this pressing issue.