Malnutrition

Malnutrition is when the body doesn't get the right balance of calories, protein, vitamins, or minerals. India carries a double burden — large numbers of undernourished children and women and a growing population with obesity and micronutrient deficiencies. Both are malnutrition.

India's picture (NFHS-5, 2019–21)

• About 35% of children under 5 are stunted (too short for age — sign of long-term undernutrition).
• 19% are wasted (too thin for height — acute undernutrition).
• Roughly two-thirds of children under 5 and over half of women 15–49 are anaemic.
• At the same time, nearly a quarter of women and men are overweight or obese — the two extremes often coexist in the same household.

Types

• Undernutrition — too little food (protein-energy) or specific nutrients. Includes stunting, wasting, and underweight.
• Micronutrient deficiency ("hidden hunger") — enough calories but short on iron, iodine, vitamin A, B12, folate, zinc, vitamin D.
• Overnutrition — too many calories, usually from refined carbs, sugar, and fat, leading to obesity and its diseases.

Who is most at risk

• Children in the first 1,000 days (conception to age 2) — damage here is often lifelong.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Older adults — especially those living alone, with chewing problems or low income.
• People with chronic illness (TB, cancer, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, HIV).
• People with eating disorders, alcohol dependence, dementia.
• Poor households — food insecurity is the biggest single driver.

Red flags — see a doctor urgently

• A child who is not gaining weight or growing in height, or who becomes thin and listless.
• Severe acute malnutrition — visible wasting, swelling of feet, sparse/pale hair, skin changes — needs hospital treatment.
• An adult losing weight without trying (more than 5% in 6 months).
• Poor wound healing, frequent infections, easy bruising, brittle hair/nails.

What helps

• First 1,000 days investment — exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, timely complementary feeding with home-cooked foods (khichdi, dal, egg, mashed fruit/vegetables), and iron-folic acid for pregnant women.
• Use government services for growth monitoring of children and free supplementary food, iron-folic acid, vitamin A drops, and iodised salt.
• Fortified staples — fortified atta, rice, salt, and oil — are a simple way to add key micronutrients to everyday meals.
• For hospitalised, surgical, or chronically ill patients — a dietitian-planned diet, oral supplements, or tube feeding may be needed.