ABSTRACT
Current social organization of cities is unable to respond to increases in the population fast enough to ensure adequate physical and social functioning of all inhabitants. New social structures in the organization of cities is changing the situation of disadvantaged and malnourished people by changing their access to resources. Resources include a number of non-economic ones that can contribute to improve health and nutritional status. The use of these resources depends on individual choices by people. The nature of basic needs predisposes these choices to include ones that are economically irrational and an inefficient use of resources from economic standpoints. The combination of restricted access to resources and inherent inefficiencies in their use determine the health and nutritional situation of people. Indicators of change in the number of choices and the elasticities of benefits associated with them would recognise both the non-competitive and the market aspects of the new urban social organization. Indicators of the number and type of choices available to people, associated with the nutritional and health benefits derived from those choices may be tools for use in urban planning to support new initiatives for groups in fast growing areas where malnutrition is prevalent.