OBJECTIVETo measure the social productivity loss and negative effect to economic development due to malnutrition in view of quantitative analysis.

METHODSUsing the data of childhood stunting and population anemia status, collected by 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey to analyse the effect on present and future productivity. PROFILES model was used to estimate two kinds of productivity losses: "Future productivity loss" was figured out based on the data of stunting and anemia status in 0-5 year-old children while "Current productivity loss" was from anemia data of the adults.

RESULTSIf current prevalence levels of malnutrition remained unchange over the next ten years (from 2002 to 2012), the total net present value of future productivity lost would be 281.7 billion Yuan (RMB), equivalent to 2.70 % of the Gross Domestice Product( GDP) in 2002, with the productivity losses due to stunting, anemia in adults and children were 0.15 % , 0.46 % and 2.09% of the 2002 GDP, respectively. All the results of calculation mentioned above was restricted with the same assumption - the ignorance of the real cost.

CONCLUSIONThe social economic development and the improvement of nutrition program would have a huge effect to population nutritional status. The social benefit and return on investment should be significant.