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Chandigarh's Children Face Alarming Malnutrition Rise
11 Jul
Summary
- Underweight children below five years rose from 20.6% to 31.6%.
- Malnourished children in the 'wasted' category increased significantly.
- Maternal health and changing food habits cited as key reasons.
Chandigarh has recorded the highest increase in the prevalence of underweight children under five years among all union territories, according to the recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2023-24. The rate of underweight children climbed from 20.6% in the 2019-20 survey to 31.6% in the latest data. This marks a significant deterioration in child nutrition within the union territory.
Beyond being underweight, malnourished children under five have also increased. The percentage of children classified as 'wasted' (moderate acute malnutrition) surged from 8.4% to 19.5%, while 'severely wasted' cases rose from 2.3% to 3.3%. Health officials attribute this rise to factors including maternal health conditions like anemia and high-risk pregnancies, as well as changing dietary patterns with a greater reliance on fast food lacking essential nutrients.
The implications of this malnutrition are severe, including hindered physical and cognitive development, weakened immunity, and increased vulnerability to infections. While some union territories have shown improvement, Chandigarh's trend is a significant concern. Efforts are underway to investigate the specific causes and implement targeted interventions to improve the nutritional status of children.
