BOGOTA (AlertNet) - Child malnutrition is costing Latin American governments billions of dollars every year and is slowing down economic growth in the region, United Nations' research shows.

Economic losses due to long-term child malnutrition amounts to on average of up to three percent of a country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to U.N. studies focusing on more than 10 Latin American countries since 2007.

"There's a clear relationship between child malnutrition economic loss, productivity and competitiveness," said Alejandro Chicheri, WFP's information officer for Latin America.

While the human cost of child malnutrition, such as physical and mental damage in children, has been well-documented, analysts are only just beginning to calculate the economic toll.

In Central America, where poverty and child malnutrition levels are historically higher than the rest of Latin America, the economic cost can be as high as 11 percent of a country's GDP.

In Guatemala, where nearly half of children suffer from chronic malnutrition, U.N. estimates put the cost at $3.1 billion a year in 2004, or 11 percent of its GDP.

"That's an amazingly high figure," said WFP's Chicheri. "To solve the problem of malnutrition we would need to spend only a fraction of that $3.1 billion. It can be done."

In the Andean region, the economic impact of malnutrition is highest in Bolivia. Last year, U.N. studies showed that child malnutrition cost the Bolivian government an estimated $552 million, nearly 6 percent of its GDP.

ECONOMIC COST HIGH

With over nine million children under five suffering from malnutrition in Latin America, governments are being urged to view the problem as an economic issue as well as a social and public health priority.

"Hunger is a social and moral issue but it's also an economic issue too," said Chicheri. "Targeting malnutrition makes economic sense."

Getting Latin American governments to reposition chronic malnutrition as part of their long-term economic development plans is vital, and it may be the silver bullet that they need to break the hunger and poverty cycle, Chicheri said.

The plight of undernourished children goes largely unnoticed as they show few outward signs. Malnutrition, measured as low weight for age, and acute malnutrition, which produces stunted growth, are often difficult to spot with the naked eye.

Malnourished children have lower resistance to disease and infection, are more likely to get sick and die from illnesses such as diarrhoea and malaria.

This directly contributes to increased poverty and places added financial burdens on already overstretched health systems.

Malnutrition also places extra pressure on schools. Research shows that malnourished children are more likely to suffer learning difficulties, perform poorly in school, leading to lower earning potential as adults. They are also more likely to drop out of school at an early age and have to repeat school years.

"A child can't concentrate in school without the proper nutrients. If a child is well nourished, they can compete better," said Chicheri.

Chronic malnutrition is often passed on from undernourished pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to their children during the first two years.

Ensuring women receiving the right amount and kinds of food during this time known as the window of opportunity, is vital for a child's intellectual and physical development.

If not, the effects are often irreversible.

Eighty per cent of a child's brain develops in the first two years. "If they don't receive the right nutrients, there is a risk that they will have irreversible brain damage," said Chicheri.

CHILEAN SUCCESS

Chile is often singled out as the only Latin American nation that has managed to virtually eradicate child malnutrition in less than three decades.

Successive governments in Chile viewed child malnutrition as both a social issue and one about competitiveness too, said Chicheri.

Other countries in the region, including Panama, Honduras and Nicaragua, are taking steps to reduce malnutrition among vulnerable populations by targeting children under two years.

But it will take at least 15 years to see results, the WFP said.

Providing a nutritious, free meal at schools is a key way to help reduce economic losses caused by malnutrition and raise school attendance rates and nutrition levels, a strategy that is yielding results in Colombia and Honduras.

"It's clear that schools providing food helps, said Chicheri. Parents will send their kids to school knowing there's food, and kids will be able to study, concentrate better and their grades will improve."

Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.