This paper gives a concise description of the evolution undergone by the concept of prevention in the health field and its involvement in the policies and programs that aim at controlling the malnutrition. The effectiveness of some proposed interventions is considered in accordance with their logic and the experience developed by some countries. While recognizing the conjunctional character of one-sided measures taken to solve health problems, the holistic point of view is adopted as the most legitimate and valid behaviour to establish the basis of preventive programs for solving energetic-proteinic malnutrition in developing countries.
