Furthermore, implementing essential public health programmes, including nutrition and
health education and micronutrient supplementation, have been estimated to reduce a considerable amount of the disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (3;41). For
example, using conservative assumptions, the benefits of investing in school feeding will far
exceed the costs even though this is one of the most expensive possible nutrition interventions
(19). In addition, nutrition interventions can contribute to reducing the substantial health care
costs for nutrition-related chronic diseases and for productivity losses due to nutrition-related
health problems.