Topic: 2026 – Combating Malnutrition
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Victoria Kim
Kingdom of Denmark
United Nations Children’s Fund
Combating Malnutrition
Victoria Kim
City High Middle School
Decades and decades of the Danish malnutrition period (DMP) began in 1999, characterized by a sharp increase in elderly malnutrition-related deaths that peaked in 2004 to 2007. This hidden crisis is often discussed as driven by factors including new diet policies and ongoing undernutrition trends that have outpaced traditional dietary support systems. From 1998 to 2018, statistics have shown that approximately 3.1% of boys and 5.3% of girls aged 11-15 were underweight, with 39.9% of hospital patients at risk of malnutrition. In many developing and developed countries, food access is not a problem, but high intake of processed foods, sugar, and saturated fats lead to obesity with malnutrition. Especially in recent years, loss of appetite, chewing and swallowing problems and chronic diseases are prioritized concerns in elderly Danes. A key aspect of this committee is to target issues that lead to malnutrition and define specific measures needed to be taken to create a global nutritional framework. Whether it is low-level, hidden malnutrition largely among elderly citizens in more developed countries (MDCs) or crisis-level malnutrition, particularly stunting in children, malnutrition needs to be addressed through a unified global strategy.
Denmark believes that combating malnutrition should be deemed as a pivotal concern for the wellbeing of Danish citizens and citizens of all countries. The increased use of antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in developing farming systems has led to the origination of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Denmark is a world leader in fighting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), as we believe that this weakens immune systems, further leading to compromised nutritional statuses of Danes. As a health-focused nation, Denmark hopes to put an emphasis on combating malnutrition through encouraging healthy food policies including the Danish Healthy Food Council (2018) and Danish Food Partnership for Health and Climate (2019) to increase the supply and demand of healthier food products.
Nutritional care quality is inconsistent across regions remains a pressing issue, as it inflates healthcare costs, prolongs recovery time, and places a strain on Denmark’s public health system. To address this systemic issue, Denmark hopes to unleash its “One-Health” expertise–originally developed to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)–to create a global nutritional framework. Denmark believes that resolutions should be centered around a global sustainable food system fund with the encouragement of the growth of “Global School Meal Coalition”; targeting food waste and supply preservation; and prioritizing Cash-Based Transfers (CBTs) to invest in long-term markets.
