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The right course for a person’s health later in life is set during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. A healthy lifestyle at this sensitive stage of life has a significantly positive impact on the health of a mother, her child, and the entire family for the long term. In Germany, a special emphasis is placed at this point. The network “Gesund ins Leben” (“Healthy Start – Young Family Network”) combines behavioral and condition-related prevention. It focuses on pregnant and young mothers and especially addresses those target groups that often accept preventive measures to a lesser extent and make proportionately less use of them. Key decision makers and all relevant actors participate. The network is supported by professional associations, scientific organizations, by other scientific institutions, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and by the National Breastfeeding Commission. It has developed recommendations and calls to action regarding diet and lifestyle before and during pregnancy, diet and physical exercise of infants and breastfeeding women, as well as diet and physical exercise in early childhood. Through multipliers, male and female, whom young families trust, the network seeks access to pregnant women and young families. By combining all these factors, prevention and health promotion can be sustainable and successful.

© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel

First of all, I was very pleased to participate – for the fourth time in a row – in the Hidden Hunger Congress, which has developed into a very important international exchange among experts from a variety of disciplines. This international and interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and experience is rewarding in every way. “Thinking outside the box” makes similarities and differences visible and creates opportunities to learn from each other. This applies particularly to the topic of the congress: “Hidden Hunger and the Transformation of Food Systems: How to Combat the Double Burden of Malnutrition?”

Where hidden hunger is concerned, and in view of the measures to combat it, we often face similar challenges across the globe. We know malnutrition exists in each and every country around the world. Its characteristics may vary, yet, where policies and strategies are concerned, the requirements to combat malnutrition are similar. Given this, we did not meet at the congress as affected states on one side and as donor states on the other. Instead, we met as parties concerned, who can learn from each other continuously.