Publications
Prevalence of Undernourishment
01/01/2023
The Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) is a national-level model-based indicator used to understand access to food in terms of dietary energy inadequacy. It measures the percentage of the population whose dietary energy intake is below the Minimum Dietary Energy Requirement (MDER). As one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Target 2.1 (End hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition), this indicator is produced yearly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Methodological note on new estimates of the prevalence of undernourishment in China
01/07/2020
This paper presents new estimates of the extent of food consumption inequality in mainland China and discusses their implications for the estimated prevalence of undernourishment (PoU). The new food consumption inequality estimates are based on the joint analysis of food consumption and food expenditure data obtained from two separate household surveys, covering the period from 2011 to 2017.
Refinements to the FAO methodology for estimating the prevalence of undernourishment indicator
01/09/2014
This paper reports on refinements to the methodology for estimating the Prevalence of Undernourishment that were adopted during the preparation of the State of Food Insecurity in the World Report 2014.
Advances in hunger measurement: traditional FAO methods and recent innovation
01/08/2014
This paper elaborates on some methodological issues, with special reference to the practice that FAO has been following in monitoring the state of food insecurity in the world. The FAO indicator of the prevalence of undernourishment is described with the aim of clarifying the statistical concept that informs it and the way it is estimated.
The Probability Distribution Framework for estimating the Prevalence of Undernourishment. Exploding the Myth of the Bivariate Distribution
01/01/2007
In his pioneering study carried in the early 1960’s, Sukhatme had formulated the estimate of the prevalence of undernourishment in a population within a bivariate distribution framework where dietary energy consumption (DEC) and dietary energy requirement (DER) are considered as random variables.
Human energy requirements. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation
01/01/2004
This publication is the report of that consultation, which took place from 17 to 24 October 2001 at FAO headquarters in Rome. The report is not meant merely to describe the energy expenditure and requirements of population groups. It is intended also to be prescriptive in supporting and maintaining health and good nutrition, defining human energy requirements and proposing dietary energy recommendations for populations.
The FAO Parametric Versus the IFPRI Non-Parametric Approach in Estimating the Prevalence of Undernourishment: Issues Relating to the Use of Household Level Data from National Household Surveys
01/01/2003
A non-parametric approach suggested by researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for measuring food deprivation (undernourishment) is not an improvement to the current FAO parametric approach. This is mainly due to flaws arising from the use of an inappropriate methodological framework and the reliance on single household data from national household surveys (NHS) that are subject to undesirable sources of variation.
Proceedings of the International Scientific Symposium, Rome, 26-28 June 2002
01/01/2003
The idea of holding the Scientific Symposium on Measurement and Assessment of Food Deprivation and Undernutrition had its origins after the World Food Summit of 1996. It was felt that bringing together those who deal scientifically with methods and applications of those methods for the measurement of hunger would greatly enhance FAO’s mandate to measure and monitor progress towards the goal of halving the number of hungry by the year 2015.
The sixth world food survey
01/01/1996
While the scope and content of the Sixth World Food Survey are broadly similar to its processor, the publication incorporates certain new features. The main conclusion of the survey is that in the developing countries as a whole, per caput dietary energy supplies have continued to increase so that during the two decades from 1970 the prevalence of food inadequacy declined.
Energy and protein requirements
01/01/1985
In common with each of its predecessors, the present report on energy and protein requirements attempts to move ahead and break new ground, presenting new concepts and identifying fresh issues. Perhaps one of the major changes that characterizes this report, in addition to the new approach to the derivation and description of energy requirements, is the recognition that the requirement estimates really relate more closely to individuals than to populations.
Energy and protein requirements. Report of a joint FAO/WHO ad hoc expert committee
01/01/1973
Nutritional standards are used to assess the adequacy of diets and of national food supplies. They provide basic information for the establishment of national production and consumption policies and the planning of programmes aiming at an adequate and equitable distribution of food supplies.
The World's Hunger and Future Needs in Food Supplies
01/01/1961
Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, A (General) 124, 463-585.