This report describes the views of a World Health Organization (WHO) expert committee on factors involved in bridging the gap between theory and practice in supplying primary nutrition health care. Following an introduction, the magnitude of the global malnutrition problem is outlined, and the responsibilities of workers in health and nutrition fields are discussed. Other topics addressed include: (1) past performance of health sector workers; (2) changing concepts of health and health services in political and sociological sectors; (3) objectives of the health sector in promoting nutrition at the local and national levels; (4) importance of collaboration among multilateral organizations, bilateral agencies, and nongovernmental institutions to raise the level of awareness about nutrition problems; and (5) importance of collaboration among nutrition programs. Essays are appended which deal with diagnosis, care, and prevention of malnutrition, administrative and manpower needs in the health care sector, and recent advances and research in nutrition. (FG)