[[Image:food policy1.png|thumb|right|200px|'''Orange flesh sweet potato in Uganda:''' vitamin A levels in sweet potato lead to increased consumption of vitamin A. Photo: HarvestPlus]]
The root causes and factors leading to malnutrition in all its forms are many, complex and multidimensional and cannot be separated from their broader social, political and economic determinants. Public interest civil society organizations, representing the international food security and nutrition civil society mechanism, have provided a [http://www.csm4cfs.org/files/News/194/cso_vision_statement_13_nov_14.pdf list of major causes] in their November 2014 vision statement on nutrition.http://www.csm4cfs.org/working-groups/nutrition/
Most consequences of malnutrition are borne by vulnerable population groups (children, women, landless, urban poor, people living with HIV, people with disabilities, etc.). These consequences contribute to deepening their vulnerability and marginalization and to the intergenerational reproduction of inequalities. The cost of inaction is enormous, first and foremost in human terms but also in economic ones. It therefore becomes an '''imperative to end malnutrition in all its forms''', including undernourishment, stunting, wasting, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Lasting solutions to the challenges of malnutrition in all its forms have to be based on holistic and multidisciplinary analysis, which combines the political and technical perspectives <ref>Public Interest Civil Society Organizations Vision Statement on Nutrition, 13 November 2014, CSM for CFS</ref>.