This document provides an introduction to public health nutrition. It defines public health nutrition as promoting good health through preventing nutrition-related illnesses in populations. The role of public health nutrition is to promote good health, nutrition, physical activity and prevent related illnesses in populations through effective population-based strategies. Major nutritional problems addressed by public health include maternal nutritional anemia, protein energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, lactation failure, addiction to milk feeding, and inadequate preparation and use of artificial milk products.

1. Introduction to
Public Health Nutrition
Dr. S. M. Mahmudul Hasan
BDS(DU), PhD(Japan)
Assistant Professor and Head
Department of Public Health
German University Bangladesh
&
Researcher
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
University of Washington

2. What is meant by public health
nutrition?
Public health nutrition is the field of study that is
concerned with promotion of good health through
prevention of nutrition–related illnesses /
problems in the population, and the government
policies and programmes that are aimed at
solving these problems

3. What is the role of public health
nutrition?
Public Health Nutrition is the promotion of
good health through nutrition and physical
activity, and the primary prevention of related
illness in the population. To conduct an
effective population-based strategy requires
people trained and competent in the discipline of
Public Health Nutrition.

4. Mission of Public Health Nutrition
• To assure conditions in which people have
access to adequate and appropriate food.
• To assure conditions in which people can
achieve optimal nutritional health.

5. What are the nutritional problems
in public health?
• Major nutritional problems include:
1) Maternal nutritional anaemia;
2) protein energy malnutrition;
3) vitamin A deficiency;
4) lactation failure;
5) addiction to milk feeding; and
6) inadequate preparation and use of artificial milk
products.

6. Public Health Core Functions and Essential Public
Health Nutrition Services

7. PUBLIC
HEALTH
CORE
FUNCTION
ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION SERVICES
Assessment Assessing the nutritional status of specific populations or
geographic areas
Identifying priority populations that may be at nutritional risk
Initiating and participating in nutrition data collection
Policy
development
Providing leadership in the development of and planning for health
and nutrition policies
Raising awareness among key policy-makers on the potential
impact of nutrition and food regulations on budget decisions on the
health of the community
Acting as an advocate for priority populations on food and nutrition
issues

8. Assurance
Planning for nutrition services in conjunction with other health services,
based on information obtained from an adequate and ongoing database
focused on health outcomes
Recommending and providing specific training and programs to meet
identified nutrition needs
Identifying or assisting in development of accurate, up-to-date nutrition
education materials
Ensuring the availability of quality nutrition services to priority
populations, including nutrition screening, assessment, education,
counseling, and referral for food assistance and follow-up
Providing community health promotion and disease prevention activities
that are population-based
Providing quality assurance guidelines for practitioners dealing with food
and nutrition issues
Facilitating coordination with other providers of health and nutrition
services within the community

9. Assessment/ Assurance/
Policy development
Participating in nutrition research,
demonstration, and evaluation projects
Providing expert nutrition consultation to the
community
Evaluating the impact of the health status of
populations who receive public health nutrition
services

10. 10 Essential Public Health Services: Public
Health Functions Steering Committee - State
and Local
• Monitor Health Status to identify community health
problems
• Diagnose and investigate health problems
• Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
• Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve
health problems
• Develop policies and plans that support individual and
community health efforts
• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure
safety

11. • Link people to needed personal health services and assure the
provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
• Assure a competent public health and personal heath care
workforce
• Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal
and population-based public health services
• Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health
problems

12. Healthy People 2020
Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national
objectives for improving the health of all
Overarching Goals
1. Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease,
disability, injury, and premature death.
2. Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve
the health of all groups.
3. Create social and physical environments that promote
good health for all.
4. Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy
behaviors across all life stages.

13. Last Decade: Strong Emphasis on
Policy & Environmental Change

14. Ecological Framework for Influences on What People Eat

15. Thank you