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Mahesh

30/05/23 06:56 AM IST

India sees reduction in stunting; but wasting, obesity are concerns: report

In News
  • India continues to show a reduction in stunting and recorded 1.6 crore fewer stunted children under five years in 2022 as compared to 2012, according to the Joint Malnutrition Estimates (JME) released by UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank.
Major Highlights
  • According to the JME, there were 1.6 crore fewer stunted children in India in 2022 compared to 2012.
  • The prevalence rate of stunting decreased from 41.6% in 2012 to 31.7% in 2022, reflecting a remarkable improvement.
  • Over the previous decade, India’s share in the global burden of stunting fell from 30 percent to 25 percent.
  • Wasting, a measure of acute malnutrition, continues to be a significant challenge, with an overall prevalence rate of 18.7% in India.
  • Additionally, the prevalence of obesity has marginally increased from 2.2% in 2012 to 2.8% in 2022.
  • Despite the low prevalence of obesity compared to the global average, it is essential to address this issue to prevent future health complications.
  • Globally, there has been a decline in stunting prevalence from 26.3% in 2012 to 22.3% in 2022.
  • In South Asia, the decline was even more significant, dropping from 40.3% to 30.5%.
  • However, the prevalence of weight issues worldwide, including underweight and overweight, remained relatively unchanged at 5.6% in 2022.
  • The JME report aligns with India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 findings, which estimated the prevalence of stunting at 35.5%.
  • This showcases a consistent reduction from previous surveys, with rates of 38% in NFHS-4 (2016) and 48% in NFHS-3 (2006).
Suggestions
  • While progress has been made, challenges persist, especially concerning wasting.
  • The JME report highlights the complex nature of wasting in South Asia, where two-thirds of children at 12 or 24 months exhibited wasting from birth or one month of age, indicating a correlation with maternal malnutrition.
  • Understanding the determinants of wasting and addressing maternal malnutrition are crucial for effective interventions.
Source- The Hindu

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