The picture of child malnutrition is changing in India. The challenge is no longer limited to just lack of food, but is turning into the double burden of malnutrition and obesity. According to a recent study, now the same child is becoming a victim of thinness in childhood and obesity after a few years. Scientists are seeing this as ‘double burden of malnutrition’. A new study led by researchers at Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and published in The Lancet Regional Health-South East Asia tracked some children from birth for nine years. The children included in this study found that most of the body mass index (BMI) was at a healthy level during their first five years. At the age of seven, about 26% of the children were thin, while 5.2% were overweight or obese. By the age of nine, obesity and overweight increased almost three times to 14.6%, while about 21.6% of children still remained underweight or thin. Malnutrition decreasing among children under 5 years of age – Government data More than 7.7 crore children are tracked by the government through Nutrition Tracker. According to this, the situation of malnutrition has improved in the last 3 years. Based on tracking of 63 lakh children aged 0-5 years, cases of stunting and underweight have reduced. Situation May 23 May 26 Stunting 38% 30% Underweight 18% 12% Malnutrition 07% 03% (Source – Nutrition Tracker) Nutrition – not lack of food, quality-processed food is the challenge According to Bina Kosi of CMC Vellore, ‘The challenge of nutrition in the country is no longer just lack of food. Food quality, ultra-processed food, less physical activity and mother’s health during pregnancy are also challenges. According to the Global Nutrition Report, about 30% of children under five years of age in India are stunted and 17.3% children are affected by low weight for height. This is higher than the average of Asia.
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