Child Undernutrition

Early detection of growth defects is essential for timely intervention. The BDHS 2022 reported national stunting prevalence of 24%, underweight of 22%, and wasting of 11% among Bangladeshi children under five. Studies in coastal Bangladesh found stunting rates as high as 42.85%, wasting at 40.47%, and underweight at 50% — well above the national average. As of 2024, an estimated 150.2 million children were stunted, 42.8 million were wasted, and 35.5 million were overweight or obese globally. As children age, reliance on complementary foods exposes them to contamination, while reduced breastfeeding removes a protective dietary effect. Impaired growth and development causes cascading consequences including delayed mental development, poor school performance, reduced intellectual capacity, and weakened immune function. Undernutrition prevalence increases with child age, with children aged 48–59 months at the highest risk across all three indicators. The majority of wasted children globally — 73% — live in low-income and middle-income countries.