Severe Malnutrition Among Children

• 21 Mar 2024

Source: TH

A recent study found the prevalence of ‘zero-food children’ in India at 19.3%, drawing attention to extreme food deprivation among children.

• Zero-food children refers to infants aged six months to 23 months who have not consumed any substantial food for a period of 24 hours.
• The study also ranks India as having the third highest percentage of zero-food children, above only Guinea (21.8%) and Mali (20.5%).
  • Uttar Pradesh stands out as a significant hotspot for this crisis, with a high percentage of 'zero-food children.'
• According to the Global Hunger Index 2023, India topped the list of countries with the highest child-wasting rate in the world, at 18.7%.
  • Also, According to the National Family Health Survey 5, 35.5% of children under age five years are stunted in India.

Read more: Combating Malnutrition in India