The state of being diseased or unhealthy, and in epidemiology, the rate at which illness occurs in a population. Morbidity statistics track how many people suffer from particular conditions, complementing mortality figures that count deaths. Diet-related morbidity includes the burden of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and nutrient deficiencies, measured through surveys, hospital records, and health examinations. Public-health planners use morbidity data to prioritise interventions, allocate resources, and evaluate policies such as fortification or sugar taxes. Reducing morbidity, not merely extending life, is increasingly the goal of nutrition policy: helping people live healthier years, not just more of them.