Impaired Growth and Development

Overview

Stunting is the delayed growth and development that children experience as a result of poor nutrition, frequent infection, and insufficient psychosocial stimulation. Stunted children are those having height-for-age more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median.

Stunting in early life, particularly during the first 1000 days from conception to the age of two, has a negative functional impact on the kid. Poor cognitive and school performance, low adult wages, lost productivity, and, when combined with excessive weight gain later in childhood, an increased risk of nutrition-related chronic illnesses in adulthood are some of the effects.

Linear growth in early infancy is a powerful indicator of healthy growth because to its link with morbidity and mortality risk, non-communicable illnesses later in life, and learning ability and productivity. It is also closely related to child development in various areas, including cognitive, linguistic, and sensory-motor skills.