Maternal nutrition: building foundations of long term good health

We know that improving maternal and infant nutrition prior to conception and up to 2 years is the most fundamental and impactful way to positively affect the long-term health of the population in both the developing and developed world. Evidence demonstrates that suboptimal maternal nutrition impairs fetal growth and development and can lead to cognitive impairment and an increased risk of non-communicable disease in adult life. Improving maternal diet and nutritional status will be a significant and cost-effective step in tackling both malnutrition and chronic disease globally. However, this long-term goal cannot be achieved without general recognition and meaningful commitment on both a national and international level to implement long-term strategies to support all women of childbearing age to make healthy diet and lifestyle choices before, during and after pregnancy