Define public nutrition. Discuss its scope and multidisciplinary nature.

1. 1 · Open in two lines. Public nutrition applies nutrition science and public health to promote good nutrition and prevent malnutrition in whole populations. Its focus is the community, not the single patient.
2. 2 · Concept.
   • Population focus and prevention first.
   • Equity: reach the poorest first.
   • Action by many sectors, based on survey evidence.
3. 3 · Contrast with clinical nutrition. One patient and treatment versus a community and prevention, with one example of each.
4. 4 · Scope (8 points).
   • Assessment and surveillance.
   • Planning and evaluating programmes.
   • Nutrition education.
   • Food security, fortification and food safety.
   • Policy, emergencies, research and training.
5. 5 · Draw a wheel of disciplines. [Diagram: 'Public nutrition' in the centre, with spokes to nutrition, medicine, agriculture, food technology, economics, sociology, education and administration]
6. 6 · Explain each discipline's role. One line each: agriculture grows the food, economics decides whether families can buy it, sociology explains food taboos, education changes habits.
7. 7 · In the community. India's triple burden (stunting, anaemia, obesity) is tackled through ICDS, PM POSHAN, Anemia Mukt Bharat and fortification.
8. 8 · Close in one line. Malnutrition has many causes, so only many disciplines working together can prevent it.

Scoring tip: The wheel of disciplines is quick to draw and fills the page neatly. Give an Indian programme as the example for each scope point.