Malnutrition is the single largest cause of death among women. Women and girls living with lower incomes face more barriers to accessing healthy food than men. To realise women and girls’ rights, gender equality should be considered as a social determinant of nutrition.
This briefing aims to explain the disproportionate impact of malnutrition on women and girls. It argues that the most meaningful way to improve nutrition among women and girls is to address the various underlying structural issues that increase their risk of malnutrition.