Rome, 4 June 2013-- This year's "State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)", devoted to "Food Systems for Better Nutrition", notes that the cost of malnutrition to the global economy in lost productivity and health care costs are "unacceptably high" and could account for as much as 5 percent of the global gross domestic product. Child and maternal malnutrition continue to reduce the quality of life and life expectancy of millions of people, while obesity-related health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, affect millions more. The report calls for priority action to combat malnutrition through changes in national and international food systems.