In 2015, Maximising the Quality of Scaling Up Nutrition (MQSUN) conducted a targeted review of the current research on maternal and child overweight and obesity to understand the current situation in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC); identify recent trends and context-specific risk factors to better understand how to prevent overweight and obesity; and to identify entry points for leveraging existing undernutrition programmes to prevent overweight and obesity in LMIC. 

To identify relevant trends and risk factors, MQSUN analysed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data on overweight and obesity amongst women and children for most countries, and data from the Global Burden of Disease Study for countries for which DHS data were not available. Additionally, MQSUN developed a conceptual framework highlighting key policies, programmes and interventions that could be prioritised to address overweight and obesity in LMIC. Lastly, MQSUN identified research gaps that should readily be addressed to support evidence-based policy and programming for the double burden of malnutrition.